audio by title 'being the gay one'

The Department of Health’s Equalities and Human Rights group organises an annual conference for stakeholders interested in the work of its Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group (SOGIAG). Over the course of a full day’s proceedings each of the various work stream chairs normally present details of what their team has been working on during the year. Senior civil servants also discuss their work and inclusion aims too.

Ruth Hunt from Stonewall spoke twice within the proceedings. In this second presentation Ruth displayed draft artwork for the major lesbian and bisexual womens’ health study she had spoken about previously; she then went on to describe some of the findings which will appear in Stonewall’s forthcoming report, “Being the Gay One - Experiences of LGB People in the Health and Social Care Sector”. At the time of speaking this report was still being considered by the Department of Health; however it is expected to be published soon. Ruth describes some of the shocking levels of inappropriate treatment endured by LGB employees in the health service. It can be expected that this is also mirrored in the experiences of trans people as well.