Waltham Forest will adopt the following policy statement as part of its Council-wide equal opportunity strategy.
Waltham Forest Council recognises that lesbians and gay men are amongst a number of groups in society that encounter harassment, violence and discrimination. The Council will work to counter such acts in the provision of its services and its employment practices. The Council is committed to developing all its services to meet the needs of lesbians and gay men.
The heterosexism of wider society is the origin of discrimination against lesbian and gay men. Lesbian and gay men as African Caribbean/Asian and other racial minorities, disabled people, people affected by HIV/AIDS or IDS. young and older people and economically disadvantaged suffer further oppression because of their sexuality.
Waltham Forest Council will, as service provider and employer, value lesbians and gay men as full citizens with rights, responsibilities and opportunities to influence service and employment practices.
