Legendary campaigner and activist Peter Tatchell hailed a ‘momentous year’ for LGBT rights during a workplace equality event in Manchester last week.
Tatchell was speaking at the Co-operative Group’s launch of checkOUT, an inter-rail support network across retailers including Asda, Morrisons and John Lewis for LGBT employees.
More than 150 people from 45 different organisations met at the Co-operative’s new headquarters at Angel Square to hear from a number of speakers from LGBT organisations.
Tatchell – author of six books – spoke of his joy at supporting both the Co-operative and the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, which recently passed a third House of Commons reading.
“I am very proud to be here and support the Co-op in what they are doing,” he said. “It is about taking the LGBT movement into all sectors of society.
“There are some issues that I hope will be respected in the House of Lords as when we talk about marriage equality, we mean marriage equality.
“The process of law reform is about raising awareness because we need to win hearts and minds. The idea that this issue does not have public support is nonsense as it has.
“We have made history not just for LGBT people but for every single person in this country. We are on our way – let’s finish the task.”
The Co-operative – founded in Rochdale in 1844 – was voted Britain’s most LGBT-friendly retail employer last year by Stonewall partly due to their in-house network, Respect.
They were voted ‘Employer of the Year’ at the inaugural Student Pride Awards in March, illustrating the impact the company has made in this arena.
Another speaker at the event, Stonewall’s client account manager Charlotte Wheeler-Quinnell, hopes the Co-operative has set an example that will be followed.
“For them this is really just about a lot of hard work and the right in the workplace and wanting to bring through change beyond the workplace,” she said. “I hope others can give them some competition!
“CheckOUT is a bit of a first. This is one of the most exciting things that could have happened to Stonewall.
“I can only think of the number of gay people who we are going to extend out arms to.”
With an estimated 2.6million LGBT people in the UK, workplace equality is an issue the group feels passionately about, according to head of employee engagement and diversity, Liz Bramley.
“Our values are very important to us. We work for an organisation that stands up,” she said. “One of the things we are most proud of is Respect and it gets bigger every month.
“We know we are on a journey and we know we have lots of things to do.
“We won’t stop until we are sure all of our employees are being treated the same. It is a big challenge but I think with the support of everyone, I think we can’t fail.”
Image courtesy of the BritishHumanists via YouTube, with thanks.
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