The law in the UK bans discrimination and harassment of LGBT people at work. Discrimination by providers of goods and services is also banned. For example being refused a service, or charged more, because of sexual orientation or gender reassignment.

The ban also covers harassment of transsexual people by providers of goods and services, but it does not at present cover harassment of LGB people.

Harassment is where a person is subjected to unwanted behaviour which has the purpose or effect of violating their dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them.

For example, homophobic or biphobic language or ‘jokes’ being used at them or in their presence, or other humiliating, hostile or offensive behaviour, based on sexual orientation.

We asked our network to tell us about their experiences of harassment on grounds of sexual orientation, by providers of goods and services. That includes public services such as healthcare, housing, education, leisure, social services, police or criminal justice services. It also includes commercial services such as in hotels, pubs and shops, or services provided by voluntary or community groups.

A summary report of the survey results is attached below.

Summary results of a survey of sexual orientation harassment (17k)