Source: Guardian, BBC News
In 2005 when Stonewall's first Workplace Equality Index (WEI) was revealed six of the country's top 100 employers for lesbians and gay men asked to remain anonymous rather than be associated with a "gay list". Happily, that situation is now unthinkable as more and more employers actually compete to make the index list and have their diversity work recognised.
Stonewall developed the WEI in 2005 to challenge the UK's leading employers to improve things for their gay staff. Until 2003 it was legal to sack a person because of their sexual orientation and many gay people lost their jobs. The change in gay employment law in December 2003 has made a huge difference to thousands of gay, lesbian and bisexual people.
Employers in the index are ranked according to criteria ranging from implementation of an effective equality policy, to granting equal benefits for same-sex partners, to having openly gay staff on their board of directors. Entries come from across the board in private, public and third sector organisations.
Top of the 2008 index is Nacro, the national crime reduction charity. The Greater London Authority (GLA) comes second and two police forces - Hampshire and Staffordshire - tie at third place. Law firm Pinsent Masons is recognised as most improved employer and the Prison Service wins the award for employee network group of the year.
Another police force has been named Scotland's most gay-friendly employer.
Lothian and Borders Police is also the first Scottish employer to feature in the top 20 of the Stonewall list.
Stonewall Scotland director Calum Irving praised the force's "fantastic" achievement and said he hoped other employers would follow its example.
He said: "They have made tackling homophobia in the workplace a priority and showed that, with will and leadership, any workplace can be made a positive environment where lesbian, gay and bisexual staff can thrive alongside their straight colleagues.
"There is simply no excuse for homophobia in the workplace. I hope that where Lothian and Borders Police have led, others will follow and all gay people will be afforded dignity and respect at work."
Lothian and Borders Police -- Scotland's second largest force -- came 11th in the UK survey, up from 80th place last year.
Standards have risen dramatically this year for the list. In 2005 an organisation had to have a minimum score of 40% to make the top 100, this year it's 71%.
Some significant success stories have been highlighted over the past few years. Less than a decade ago the Royal Navy used to actively root out and sack gay personnel; for the last three years it has played a prominent role in the index.
Other sectors such as the police, major city companies and investment banks -- never traditionally known as gay-friendly -- are now amongst the most successful sectors Stonewall works with, performing excellently in 2008.
The index can never be perfect. Attempting to measure attitudes and support of lesbian and gay staff is not an easy task, but Stonewall has developed a rigorous approach which continually raises the bar.
The index is now routinely used both in the private and public sectors to measure improvement. The 1.7million gay people in the UK workforce use it to see how their employer compares with rivals. It is also a key resource for the 150,000 gay students in UK universities, who use it when deciding where they want to take their talents upon graduation.
Full article: Dramatic progress towards gay equality at work | Joe Public | Guardian Unlimited
Police win 'gay-friendly' honour | BBC News