Projects

Getting Started Route Map

The Getting Started Route Map is a guide on how to start making public services more inclusive for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) service users.

Public services are just that; services provided by the government to the public. Why then, do so many people still face discrimination, poor treatment and a lack of consideration from those who deliver services?

There have been vast changes in equalities legislation over the past few years, bringing more protections for LGBT people. For LGB people, the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 and the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 have been established in the workplace and in the provision of goods, facilities and services and the exercise of public functions.

Transgender rights have also come a long way thanks to the Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999, The Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the Gender Equality Duty protects transsexual people in employment and vocational training. Also, from 6th April 2008 the Sex Discrimination (Amendment of Legislation) Regulations 2008 came into effect protecting transgender people from discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services.

Many organisations now have equal opportunities policies which cover sexual orientation issues explicitly and the obligations under the Gender Equality Duty. However, many of these organisations are beginning to
recognise that a policy on sexual orientation is only one side of the coin.

A policy document on its own can’t change things at the ground level. If a policy is not filtered throughout an
organisation right down to the shop floor, then there is every possibility that the LGBT service user’s experience will not improve. The Getting Started Route Map helps public services provide a better service for their lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) service users. To do this it will highlight some of the main issues that may prevent LGBT people from having a positive experience when accessing a service and will look at some of the ways that staff can make a difference for LGBT people.

Stonewall Scotland has worked with various public services to identify the key areas where the most basic information is needed to help service providers understand the issues facing LGBT people. Many of these services are making significant progress because they understand that recognising difference can improve their service as a whole. They are committed to
ensuring they consider the needs of LGBT people in their service delivery. The information in the Getting Started Route Map is a direct result from working closely with public services and learning from their experiences.