The Legal Context for Social Work with Lesbians and Gay Men in the UK: Updating the Educational Context

Abstract

This article considers some of the social, legal and political changes that have taken place in the UK over recent years to elevate the inequality and discrimination faced by lesbians and gay men and how these changes have affected social work practice. In doing this the paper highlights some of the debates from verbatim reports of proceedings in both houses of parliament that pre‐empted the passing of the legislation. These debates indicate the prejudicial attitudes of some members and show their opposition to lesbians and gay men having the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts.

The paper then introduces the Equality Act 2006 and the Sexual Orientation Regulations 2007, which make it illegal to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation. The paper considers various amendments that the introduction of equality legislation makes to other pieces of legislation before going on to discuss the impact the legislation will have on the way in which goods, facilities and services will be delivered. The paper concludes that changing the law might be one thing, but changing people's attitudes is another. This conclusion has particular implications for social work education and practice.

Keywords:

• Discrimination
• Legislation
• Sexual Orientation
• Attitudes
• Equality

Notes

1. Other laws relevant to social work practice regarding social workers' and agencies' responsibilities, powers and duties towards all service users and carers more generally (Braye & Carr, 2005; Brammer, 2006) are also relevant to lesbians and gay men.