Until recently there existed no legislation that specifically protected Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) workers rights in the UK. It was only with the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 that discrimination in the work place on the basis of sexual orientation was officially recognised as unlawful. Before this LGBT workers who suffered discrimination, such as being denied promotion or sacked due to their sexual orientation, could only attempt to appeal these decisions using the Sex Discrimination Act or general employment legislation. The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 renders it unlawful to discriminate against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation in the workplace, as a worker. While the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 refers to LGBT consumers and service users.
This exhibition features just a small sample of documents from the Hall-Carpenter Archives| (held here at LSE Archives) which relate to the struggle for LGBT workers rights. The archive consists of material from many prominent LGBT organisations and activists, including the papers of LAGER (Lesbian and Gay Employment Rights) and the Gay Rights at Work Committee (GRWC). LAGER provided advice that focused on the intersections of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation with that of gender, race, class and disability. While GRWC produced information pamphlets and held conferences on gay rights at work.
Other topics covered in the Hall-Carpenter Archives include:
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HIV/AIDS, such as compulsory HIV testing, as well as the specific discrimination experienced by LGBT teachers and others.
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Age of consent
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Section 28
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Recognition of same-sex partnerships in employment benefits
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Trade unions and LGBT workers rights.
Typical documents include: campaign literature, reports, journals, photographs, personal correspondence and newspaper cuttings.
Click on the images for larger versions.
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Front cover of the pamphlet "Gay Workers: Trade Unions and The Law" produced by the National Council for Civil Liberties, with an introduction by Tony Benn. The authors propose ways for trade unions, workers and gay organisations to challenge discrimination successfully (HCA/NCCL/6/3).
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Advert for the "Gay Workers Handbook" produced by the Gay Working Peoples Campaign informing gay workers about their rights in the workplace, 1970s (HCA/Albany Trust/7/136).
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Leaflet promoting a boycott of Texaco petrol due to their policy of HIV testing all job applicants and discriminating against those who refuse the test or are found positive. Produced by the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT-UP) as part of their Employment Action! campaign, c1989 (HCA/CHE2/9/46).
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Front cover of a leaflet by the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) highlighting discrimination against homosexuals in the employment process and requesting information on cases of discrimination experienced due to sexual orientation, c1975 (HCA/CHE/2/16).
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Poster advertising the Birmingham "Gay Rights at Work" conference in 1982 organised by the Gay Rights at Work Committee. Conferences were also held in London in 1980 and Sheffield in 1981 (HCA/Ephemera/103).
Poster calling for an end to discrimination against gay workers. Produced by the Gay Working Peoples Campaign, c1975 (HCA/Ephemera/104).
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Front cover of a pamphlet, the first major publication produced by the Gay Rights at Work Committee. The pamphlet contains advice on coming out at work, the current law and how unions could help, as well as detailing high-profile cases of homosexual discrimination. 1980 (HCA/Ephemera/421).
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Leaflet produced by Lesbian and Gay Employment Rights (LAGER) advertising their advice help lines. LAGER was a voluntary organisation that aimed to help lesbians and gay men who were experiencing problems at work, or whilst looking for work, by providing free and confidential advice through their information service. c1985 (HCA/Ephemera/681).
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Story by Lesley Frost in "Lesbian Mothers' Newsletter" detailing an individual account of an interview experience, c1986 (HCA/Ephemera/771).
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Postcard produced by Stonewall UK in a campaign to raise awareness of the new Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations, which came into force in December 2003 (HCA/Ephemera/1242).
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Cover of a leaflet produced by MSF (Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union) detailing measures that should be in place to help homosexuals fight discrimination at work, for example: an Equal Opportunities Policy and Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures, c1984 (HCA/Ephemera/1254).
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Leaflet produced by LAGER containing information on training courses on offer to organisations covering subjects such as HIV & Employment and Lesbian and Gay Issues in the Workplace, c1984 (HCA/Ephemera/1254b).
Further images from LSE Archives are available on the LGBT Timeline|, which highlights some key moments in LGBT history since the Wolfenden Report in 1957.