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UK society still 'scarred' by homophobia
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The "ugly scar" of homophobia still "disfigures" sections of
society even though Britain is more tolerant than a decade ago, a
union leader said today.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber warned that there was still a
"long way" to go before social attitudes caught up with changes in
the law.
Mr Barber, addressing the TUC's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender (LGBT) conference in London, said there had been
"genuine progress" in the past year, including tackling bullying in
schools and colleges and moves to place a duty on public bodies to
promote equality.
"While we have made real strides on the legal agenda, the wider
battle for hearts and minds goes on.
"Stronger legal rights have yet to be fully mirrored by more
progressive social attitudes.
"Britain may be a more tolerant, diverse place than a decade ago
but the ugly scar of homophobia still continues to disfigure
sections of our society.
"You don't have to look far for the evidence from the casual chants
on football terraces to the overt discrimination still experienced
by the LGBT community, despite legal advances.
"Most disturbingly of all, the violent hate crimes that are still
being perpetrated against LGBT people, and gay men in
particular."
