Lesbian & Gay Equality Policy Statement

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Liverpool Women's Aid recognises that same sex relationships are a common feature in all cultures and that there is a long history of disadvantage and discrimination towards lesbians and gay men.

Liverpool Women's Aid is committed to ensuring equal treatment of it's employees who are lesbian or gay and will ensure that it's procedures and practices in delivering services are not based on the assumption that all it's service users are heterosexual.

Liverpool Women's Aid recognises that there are important differences between the lives of women and men and that many lesbians and gay men are also disabled, unemployed, working class and parents and therefore face other forms of discrimination that combine with those relating to their sexual identity.

Liverpool Women's Aid fully supports the rights of lesbians and gay men to be open about their sexual identity ('out') if they so choose. Furthermore it intends to create an environment where lesbian service users and employees will be confident that they will receive the same treatment as heterosexuals.

Liverpool Women's Aid will ensure that whenever within it's power, Service Conditions of employees offer the same benefits to same-sex relationships as heterosexual relationships, including pensions, special and parenting leave.

Liverpool Women's Aid will not tolerate harassment based on unjustified views of heterosexuality being the 'normal' form of relationship. Harassment on the grounds of a person being lesbian or gay will be treated as a serious disciplinary matter. A particular feature of the discrimination experience by lesbians and gay men is due to negative stereotyping and their invisibility as a recognised group.