Sexual Orientation

Last Updated on Monday, 20 May 2013 12:18

Definition

Sexual orientation refers to someone's attraction to a person of the same sex, opposite sex, or both sexes.
People who are attracted only to persons of the opposite sex are known as heterosexual or straight. People who don't identify as heterosexual or straight might describe themselves as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or use the umbrella term LGBT. An LGBT person can be single, in a relationship with another person of the same sex, or of the opposite sex, such as bisexual or transgender people. Some LGBT people are 'out', which means that they openly acknowledge their sexual orientation, but many other LGBT people keep their sexual orientation private, often because they are concerned about discrimination or prejudice.

Latest News

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (17 May 2013)
Fear, isolation and discrimination common in Europe’s LGBT community
The EU’s largest LGBT hate crime and discrimination online survey ever conducted shows that many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people cannot be themselves in their daily lives. Many hide their identity and live in isolation or even fear. Others experience discrimination, and even violence, when being themselves.
The survey was carried out by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). The results underline the need to promote and protect fundamental rights for LGBT people so they too can live their lives with dignity.............
View the full press release

The report: European Union lesbian, gay,bisexual and transgender survey: Results at a glance

Government Equalities Office and Department for Culture, Media & Sport (17 May 2013)
International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
Jo Swinson marks the government’s commitment to advancing LGB&T equality.
To mark the 9th International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, the UK is celebrating its status as a world leader in advancing LGB&T equality.

Minister for Women and Equalities, Jo Swinson, said: “International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia is an opportunity to champion the progress made towards equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGB&T) people, as well as reflect on the challenges that remain.

“We’re absolutely committed to advancing LGB&T equality and we’ve a lot to be proud of. I’m delighted that, once again, we have been recognised by the International Lesbian and Gay Association as the number one in Europe on LGB&T rights, and we are determined to maintain and build on this.

“But there is still more we can all do to eliminate prejudice and discrimination which is why we will continue to drive forward change across government as well as push for more action from partners overseas.”

Here are just some of the things we’ve done to knock down barriers and improve the lives of the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the UK:

We have introduced legislation to Parliament that will enable same-sex couples to get married
In December 2011, we changed the law to allow same-sex couples to register their civil partnership on religious premises on a permissive basis. A step forward for both LGB equality and religious freedom
We have brought forward legislation to disregard consensual gay sex convictions, and those affected can now submit applications
In December 2011, we published the world’s first transgender equality action plan, which lays out real actions to address the specific challenges that trans people can face in their daily lives
Our Sports Charter, which aims to rid sport of homophobia and transphobia, goes from strength to strength with well over 40 of sport’s National Governing Bodies, all professional football league teams and 3,700 individual sports fans signed up.
We have stopped the deportation of asylum seekers who have had to leave particular countries because their sexual orientation or gender identification puts them at proven risk of imprisonment, torture or execution.

Source of information

Stonewall welcomes the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHO), 17 May 2013 - view their news item

Loughborough University (20 March 2013)
Football fans’ attitude to gay players has changed dramatically, according to Loughborough study
The attitude of football fans towards the presence of gay players has changed dramatically in the last 25 years, according to a Loughborough University academic.

Dr Jamie Cleland’s research has revealed that 93 per cent of fans say that a player’s on-field performance, not his sexuality, is the most important thing to them.

And that shows just one example of a cultural shift in attitudes since Justin Fashanu came out in 1990 and was ostracised by former team-mates, fans, the media and even his own brother John.

Dr Cleland has done three studies into homosexuality in football: (1) an analysis of 3,500 fans’ views towards the presence of gay footballers with Professor Ellis Cashmore of Staffordshire University; (2) an analysis of 2,500 posts surrounding homosexuality on fan message boards; (3) an analysis of the print media’s reaction to Anton Hysén coming out in March 2011.

“The conclusion from all three studies is that the environment in football is a lot more inclusive towards sexuality than is being reported,” said Dr Cleland, a lecturer in criminology in the Department of Social Sciences.......
View the full press release

BBC Sport ' Football (19 March 2013)
Sports minister supports anti-homophobia target for clubs
Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson has backed calls for professional football clubs to do more to combat homophobia.

Only 29 of 92 clubs are actively engaged in the 'Football v Homophobia' initiative which launched in February.

But campaigners are hoping 50% of clubs join the scheme by the end of March, with The Football Association issuing a toolkit to help them.

"The toolkit from The FA is a good initiative and I urge more clubs to use it," Robertson told BBC Sport.

"Discrimination of any kind must be stamped out. I want to see the football authorities increase their efforts to tackle homophobia.

"I was encouraged that their joint anti-discrimination strategy, published in December, includes action in this area as more needs to be done."

The toolkit, made public on 25 February by The FA and devised by Football v Homophobia (FvH), is intended to help clubs challenge homophobic behaviour while welcoming more lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) people to football...
View the full news item

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (4 March 2013)
It´s So Me - New LGB web presence for NI
Today, the Equality Commission is launching a new web-based resource to help it connect one to one with lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people in Northern Ireland.

In the Commission’s most recent ‘Do You Mean Me?’ survey, 53% of LGB people were likely to consider they had been subject to some form of unfair treatment, up from 34% in the last survey in 2008.

Chief Commissioner Michael Wardlow explains, “The Equality Commission’s legal enquiry figures show that numbers of complaints about discrimination from LGB individuals are very low indeed.

“We already have advice and information services by phone and online, and we get about 3,000 enquiries a year. But very few of these are to do with sexual orientation, and we are concerned that the widespread homophobia and allegations of discrimination against LGB people we hear about have not resulted in more enquiries to our advice service.

“We recognise that there are very real issues that make it difficult to come forward and challenge discrimination, and that we need to do more to meet the needs of LGB people........
View the full news item

Alternatively, go straight to the website at:www.some-ni.co.uk

Legislation

Under the Equality Act 2010, it is unlawful to directly or indirectly discriminate against or harass a person because of their sexual orientation.

For further information on the Equality Act 2010, visit the Legislation page of this Website.

Research

To provide a balance of information, it should be stated that there are a number of football organisations, including LGBT sports organisations, who do not feel the "We're not Homophobic" research is robust enough. An alternative study has been undertaken by Staffordshire University who dispute the popular assumption that football is seething with homophobia and this can be found here .

Other resources

Resources 2012 onwards:

European Union lesbian, gay,bisexual and transgender survey: Results at a glance. European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 17 May 2013 (36 pages)
The survey results provide valuable evidence of how LGBT persons in the EU have experienced discrimination, harassment and violence in different areas of life. By highlighting and analysing the survey results, this report, together with the accompanying EU LGBT survey – European Union lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender survey: main results report, will contribute to much needed discussions in the EU and its Member States about concrete legislative and non-legislative measures to improve the situation for LGBT persons living in the EU.
Download a copy

Dated February but released in April 2013...

Grasping the Nettle: The Experiences of Gender Variant Children and Transgender Youth Living in Northern Ireland. Institute of Conflict Research, February 2013 (66 pages)
This report was funded by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) and was conducted by the Institute for Conflict Research (ICR). It is the first piece of research from Northern Ireland to specifically investigate the experiences of young people who experience gender distress and/or identify as transgender (aged 25 and under). The data presented was collected through a series of 12 interviews and 5 focus groups. In total 55 people, including young transgender people, family members, youth workers, and healthcare professionals, contributed to the findings
put forth in this report. The report highlights the numerous challenges that young transgender people and their families face in multiple spheres of their lives because of the widespread ignorance, prejudice and discrimination that continues to exist towards transgender people in Northern Ireland.

The report argues that service providers and policy makers need to take a proactive approach in order to erode the cultural inertia that is marginalising young transgender people and preventing many of them from reaching their full potential. Only by grasping the nettle can young people, their families, the voluntary sector and government agencies co-operate to make Northern Ireland a more inclusive society in which young trans people are able to participate freely without fear of reprisal.
Download a copy

Including LGBT young people in sport: A guide. LGBT Youth North West with support from Pride Sports, January 2013 (6 pages)
This guidance provides some pointers for National Governing Bodies and other sport providers on how to make their sport more accessible to young LGBT people. It has been written following consultation with young LGBT people who access the services of LGBT Youth North West.
It provides information about the legislation as it affects young LGBT people in sport, takes a look at the experiences of LGBT young people in relation to sport, with a particular focus on school sport and then provides recommendations for engaging LGBT young people in sport and making sport a more inclusive and welcoming place.
Download a copy

Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) People in Sport: Understanding LGB sports participation in Wales. [Research report produced by Stonewall Cymru and Sport Wales]. Sport Wales, December 2012 (55 pages)
This research provides a glimpse into how lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people living in Wales experience and view sport. The findings examine several key areas of the sport experience: current participation levels; what it is like to take part in club sports or team sports; school sport; stereotypes in sport; types of discrimination experienced by LGB individuals in sport; and LGB visibility in sport.
Download a copy

Multiple identity; Multiple Exclusions and Human Rights: The experiences of people with disabilities who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people living in Northern Ireland. The Rainbow Project, 22 November 2012 (190 pages)
This project was developed from exploratory discussions in 2011 between Disability Action and The Rainbow Project and the recognition by both organisations that very little was known about people with disabilities who identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual and/or transgender (LGB&T) in Northern Ireland.
The purpose of this research was to explore the everyday experiences of this group, to offer practical information and suggest best practice to groups and organisations engaging with them, to raise awareness of the issues involved, highlight areas for further work and to explore aspects of this complex multiple identity. Equally important was the need to offer people with disabilities who identified as LGB and/or T a platform through which to have their voices heard by all of us.
Download a copy

Using Monitoring Data: Making the most of sexual orientation data collection. Stonewall, October 2012 (42 pages)
This guide showcases best practice from organisations using monitoring data effectively to identify and tackle instances of anti-gay discrimination and harassment, as well as to understand their staff, customers and service users better. In doing so, they are all creating better workplaces for Britain’s 1.7 million lesbian, gay and bisexual employees.
Download a copy

Out in Sport: LGBT Students’ Experiences of Sport. National Union of Students, October 2012 (43 pages)
For many students, sport is an important part of college and university life. Yet many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBT) students feel excluded or uncomfortable participating in sport because of a variety of cultural and structural barriers. The NUS LGBT campaign designed this research to better understand the sporting experiences of LGBT students in further and higher education.
Download a copy

LGBT inclusion in sport. Good practice handbook, No.4. Author: Louise Englefield. Council of Europe, September 2012 (51 pages)
This handbook examines the reasons for the widespread and continued exclusion of LGBT people from mainstream sport, examines the nature and mechanisms of prejudice and discrimination towards LGBT people in sport and highlights the costs of this exclusion to sport. The handbook also provides examples of good practice in working with both young people and adults to tackle homophobia in sport and to create more inclusive, tolerant sporting environments in which all LGBT athletes can flourish.
Download a copy

Trans Mental Health Study 2012. Jay McNeil, Louis Bailey, Sonja Ellis, James Morton and Maeve Regan. Scottish Transgender Alliance et al, September 2012 (94 pages)
This research represents the largest survey of its kind in Europe, providing groundbreaking data on trans people’s mental health needs and experiences, explored in the context of daily life, social/support mechanisms and when accessing healthcare and mental health services. Central here was an exploration of how the process of transitioning (social and/or medical) impacts mental health and wellbeing. The research was unique in its exploration of both the positive and negative impact that being trans has on mental health and wellbeing.
Download a copy

Participation statistics from Sport England (August 2012)
Active People Survey 6
Active People Survey 6 results for a range of specific groups, for the rolling 12 month period April 2011 – April 2012, have been made available this month.

This includes data for:

Participation by Sexual Identity - weekly sports participation for the period April 2011 - April 2012 – access the spreadsheet

Source of information

Coaching Awareness Top Tips - Sexual Orientation. sports coach UK, dated December 2011, released March 2012 (2 pages)
Understanding the barriers LGBTG people face will help you overcome any preconceptions or stereotypes you may have of
this group of people. By being more empathetic and understanding of all your participants, you create a more
welcoming and enjoyable coaching environment.
Download a copy

Older resources

Advancing transgender equality: a plan for action. Home Office - Equalities, December 2011 (20 pages)
This document is the culmination of our active engagement with the transgender community, practitioners and the voluntary sector. It lays out our vision and the focus for the Government’s commitment to deliver greater equality for transgender people. We do not underestimate the challenges transgender people face and the actions in this document are just the first steps towards achieving this vision.
Download a copy

What's it got to do with you?: 10 reasons why you should fill in those funny looking things at the end of forms. Stonewall 2009 (12 pages)
Wherever you go, people want to know your business. Your age, gender, sexuality, race, religion, whether you’re disabled… Where does all this information go?It goes to help make things better, that’s where it goes. It tells local authorities where to direct their services; it shows organisations if certain people aren’t making the most of them; and it makes sure that you get the right slice of what you’re paying for. They can’t change things without your help.

Download a copy

What's It Got To Do With Me? 10 reasons why you need to keep your local services on their toes. Stonewall, no date (12 pages)
A simple, short plain-English guide about equality and diversity and what people can expect from service providers. It explains to people why ‘equality and diversity’ is important and how to make sure their local services are delivering equal services.
Download a copy

Charter Against Homophobia and Transphobia in sport
The UK sports councils have signed up to the charter against homophobia and transphobia in sport. A letter of support was sent to the home office and a copy can be found here. For information on how you can sign up too and for more detail on what the charter stands for, please see this page on the home office website (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/equalities/lgbt/sports-charter/ ). Around 2,000 sports organisations and clubs have signed up so far and the sports councils equality group would like to encourage as many organisations as possible to sign up to the important charter."

Equality in Sport