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Equality and Diversity

August 13th, 2012

The week that was…

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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Equality and Diversity

August 13th, 2012

The week that was…

0 comments

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Equality and Diversity highlights from last week: the Olympics provided us an opportunity to discuss Diversity in Sport but let’s not forget the Paralympics start at the end of this month, the charity Diversity Role Models calls for visible gay sexuality in schools and Stonewall says that transgender staff are still not fully supported in the workplace.

We have now bid farewell to the Olympics. The mega sporting event provided an opportunity to discuss issues of gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion and disability in sport. Throughout the Olympics we published a series of articles on ‘Diversity in Sport’ – if you haven’t already read them, do check them out.

From Olympics to Paralympics – we should not forget that another mega sporting event is due towards the end of this month. The Paralympics are significant for their championing of diversity – read about the history of the Paralympics Games and the challenges they face today.

Outside the sporting world, a new anti-bullying charity Diversity Role Models has called for ‘visible gay sexuality’ in schools to achieve success in anti-homophobia and anti-bullying initiatives. Simon Blake OBE, the newly appointed Chair, said, “We need openness in the playground, in the classroom and in the behaviour of teachers. Make sexuality human and it becomes an issue of fairness – something young people feel passionately about.”

Meanwhile, in the workplace, transgender issues are still not sufficiently and appropriately addressed. Stonewall Scotland director Colin McFarlane said while employers are making ‘great strides’ in terms of lesbian, gay and bisexual equality, they are lagging behind providing support for transgender staff. Jane Fae, a transgender activist, says the biggest issue in many offices is use of the toilet. Employers who ban their transitioning staff from using the female toilet or suggest that they use the disabled facilities may face legal action.

Is there anything you’d like to see on the blog? Write to us – Equality.and.Diversity@lse.ac.uk.

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Equality and Diversity

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