The Greater London Authority (GLA) has been named the second most gay friendly employer in the UK in Stonewall’s annual Workplace Equality Index, which highlights the UK’s top 100 most lesbian and gay positive employers.
The index survey ranks employers based on the implementation of inclusive policies, recruitment practices and support for lesbian and gay staff and service users.
Welcoming the GLA’s inclusion on the index and promotion from third place in 2007 Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said he was “committed to making the Greater London Authority an exemplary organisation in promoting lesbian and gay rights, both as the regional government of London and with regard to its own employees. I am proud that Stonewall has rated it amongst the most gay-friendly organisations in the UK and that it has improved on last year. London’s record equality and diversity has made it one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world and I am committed to ensuring that we build upon this record to meet the highest possible standards in the future.”
Other organisations within the GLA Group also improved their placings compared to last year. Transport for London went up to sixth place from eighth in 2007, whilst London’s fire service went up from 28 to 13 and the Metropolitan Police Service from 42 to 33.
Mayor Livingstone said: ‘The fact that TfL has also increased its position in the top ten, and the fire service and police have improved their rankings on the index, shows that the efforts aimed at supporting lesbian and gay employees and responding to the needs of lesbian and gay Londoners are paying off across the whole GLA Group.
The Stonewall Workplace Equality Index also ranked the Greater London Authority first in its list of organisational best practice for its Sexual Orientation Equality Scheme, published in 2007, saying: ‘This comprehensive document sends out an important signal that LGB diversity is taken seriously and is integral to the whole ethos of the GLA and its partner organisations.
‘I have a clear vision for sexual orientation equality, which incorporates demanding full equality in the law and its effective implementation, challenging homophobia and discriminatory practice, and celebrating the important contributions that lesbian and gay Londoners make to this great, world city. The capital is home to the largest and most diverse lesbian and gay population in Europe – I want London to give continued leadership international and national leadership on lesbian and gay equality issues.”
