February 2016 • Issue 3
e n i z a g ma
@CoopRespectLGBT www.cooperative.coop/respectlgbt
‘God loves me just the way I am’ Respect meets Vicky Beeching
lus Newsdesk pRespect Let’s talk about loneliness The best LGBT TV of 2015 Colleague profile…Jo Barclay-Calton And much more… The inclusive LGBT Network for
UPLIFTING
The Beat of Gay UK FM | DAB | ONLINE
Respect Magazine • February 2016
e m o c l e w Editors’ welcome
Welcome to Respect, the magazine for the UK’s most LGBT friendly retailer, The Co-operative.
Amelia
A word from this edition’s editors, Amelia Cargo and Ben Brosnan
February is LGBT History Month, an annual event that gives us a chance to reflect on our past, celebrate the lives and achievements of prominent LGBT individuals and recognise those who have contributed significantly to LGBT causes.
Ben
As a nod to this year’s theme - religion, philosophy and belief - we sat down with former Christian megastar and LGBT activist, Vicky Beeching, to chat about life since her very public coming out in The Independent a year and a half ago. Our other interview this issue is with Jo Barclay-Calton, one of our colleagues in the Support Centre. In her spare time, Jo sits on the Board of Trustees at George House Trust, a HIV/AIDS charity based in the North West. Although little talked, statistics show that nearly 40% of LGB people will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives. If you’re Trans, that figure doubles. We take a closer look at how domestic violence affects the LGBT community.
contents
note
Colleague profile Jo Barclay-Calton Jo tells us all about her role as Trustee at HIV/ AIDS charity, George House Trust
Respect Newsdesk Respect meets… Vicky Beeching The Christian singer/ LGBT activist talks about life since her very public coming out Let’s talk about loneliness We take a closer look at our charity partnership with British Red Cross
The best LGBT TV of 2015 Looking for something good to watch? Check out our top picks Love shouldn’t hurt An article examining domestic violence within the LGBT community
Copyright © 2015 The Co-operative Group Ltd, all rights reserved. Unless otherwise stated, all content in this publication is property of The Co-operative Group Ltd. Unauthorised duplication, copying and redistribution (either in full or in part) is strictly prohibited.
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
and more…
news
… k s e d
Juno Dawson, the author of bestselling young adult book, This Book is Gay, will document her transition in popular women’s magazine, Glamour. “It’s such a thrill to be able to bring my transition diary to Glamour magazine,” comments Juno. “2015 was a watershed moment for Trans people, so it seems appropriate for a magazine for all women in a modern, diverse UK should feature a Trans woman.” In her first column, Dawson discusses the process of understanding and accepting her gender identity and asks what it means to be a woman in today’s society.
BBC criticised over Sports Personality of the Year nomination The BBC came under intense scrutiny in December when it announced that Tyson Fury had been nominated for Sports Personality of the Year. The event was picketed by gay rights and feminist groups angered by Fury’s homophobic and sexist remarks. The protests followed on from a 140,000 signature petition asking the BBC to remove Fury from the shortlist.
Founder of Black Pride turns down MBE over ongoing LGBT persecution
desk…
Trans author lands monthly column in Glamour magazine
news
Respect Magazine • February 2016
Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, co-founder of Black Pride, said she could not accept the award when “LGBTQI people are still being persecuted, tortured and even killed around the world under colonial laws.”
Greece passes bill legalising same sex partnerships
Greece recently legalised same sex civil partnerships, despite opposition from some political parties and the powerful Orthodox Church. Nearly 200 out of the 300 seat parliament voted in favour of the bill, which was passed just before Christmas.
Elsewhere in Europe, an overwhelming majority of Slovenians voted to ban equal marriage, even though the bill was only passed in March last year. Violeta Tomic, a representative from the party which initially put forward the bill, described the result as a ‘temporary setback’.
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respectdoes... Liverpool Did you know?
Around 75 million people visit Liverpool every year?
Like nearby Manchester, the growth and expansion of Liverpool really took off during the industrial revolution, although the city can trace its roots back to the early 13th century. Today, people flock to the city for shopping, football and The Beatles. Here are some top tips for a weekend away to remember.
Larking about Situated in leafy Aigburth, just a stone’s throw away from the beautiful Sefton Park, Lark Lane is a student area famous for its many independent shops, bars and cafes. One of the standouts is Greendays, a cosy vegetarian café that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. They’re big on local sourcing - most of their bread comes from bakeries based in and around Liverpool.
Respect Magazine • February 2016
staring out to sea as if looking for something. Try to visit at sunset on a clear day, it’s absolutely magical.
Shop until you drop With the arrival of Liverpool One in 2007, Liverpool was put firmly on the shopping map. This 170 store shopping centre boasts a 14 screen cinema, restaurants and the largest Topshop outside of London. If independents are more your thing, Liverpool has a lot to offer. Design fans should check out Cow+ Co, a delightful shop selling jewellery, homeware and other trinkets, whereas music junkies can get their fix at Probe Records, a small but perfectly formed record store on Slater Street. If you visit, you’ll be in good company members of Frankie goes to Hollywood and Echo and the Bunnymen are also said to have shopped here.
Find out about the Fab Four Speaking of music, you can’t talk about Liverpool without mentioning The Beatles, arguably the most famous band in history and the city’s four favourite sons. The first stop has to be The Beatles Story at the Albert Dock, a fantastic visitor attraction dedicated to band. Albert Dock is also the starting point for the Magical Mystery Tour, a two-hour bus trip taking in various landmarks, including Penny Lane and Strawberry Field. Anyone coming to Liverpool for The Beatles should stop off at the world-famous Cavern Club, a venue that hosted The Beatles nearly 300 times, along with other greats such as The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and Elton John.
Another Place Although it sounds like the name of a hot new bar or café, Another Place is actually the name of an outdoor art exhibition by celebrated sculptor, Anthony Gormley. The installation consists of 100 cast-iron figures made from casts of the artist’s own body. They are spread out along three kilometres of Crosby beach,
get involved? Do you want to see your city or town showcased in the Respect magazine? Or is there a city (at home or abroad) that you would like to hear more about? Let us know and we’ll make it happen: Email: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop Twitter: @CoopRespectLGBT, #Respectmag
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
p a out
Respect Magazine • February 2016
validium
Validium is the Employee Assistance Programme provider for all employees of the Co-operative Group. This is a confidential support service, available 24/7, designed to assist employees with personal or work-related difficulties. So what does that mean? Well, you can contact us to discuss issues and get information, signposting and/or support for concerns as diverse as:
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
You are worried about coming out to family and friends. You recently had a baby and are returning to work soon. You want to discuss childcare options. You are not coping with changes at work and are feeling overwhelmed. You are not happy with your GP - how do you complain? You have concerns in coming to terms with your own sexuality. Your relationship has broken down and you need to talk to someone who can be objective about the circumstances. Your mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer - how can you best support her?
As well as such diverse support through our specialist counsellors, lawyers, money and debt specialists and nurses, there is also a managerial helpline available from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. This is designed to assist managers experiencing everyday concerns about a member of their team or difficulties with managerial issues. This can help to: G Clarify a work problem. G Explore personal feelings and reactions to a work situation. G Consider alternative solutions and likely outcomes to issues at work. G Offer support when preparing for difficult conversations at work, for example: G One to one meetings G Change G Redundancy G Absence G Trauma
Details about how to get in touch with Validium can be found on the intranet. ®
INCREASING WORKFORCE VALUE
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
“Stonewall’s #NoBystanders campaign is simple, hard-hitting and inclusive of all and any group who may suffer bullying and prejudice... Don’t be a bystander. If you hear it, or see it, then stop it. I know I will.” Jackie Crozier, Ex-director of Manchester Pride
the d e n g i s e v a h 15,000 people u? o y l l i w e g d e pl NoBystanders
Respect Magazine • February 2016
Respect meets… Vicky Beeching
very seriously. I decided at 30 that I wanted to publicly come out, but didn’t do the interview until I was 35. I knew it would be a very public thing, based on my former career, and that I’d need to be really ready - both to withstand a lot of criticism from conservative Christians, and also to provide the support that I knew a lot of LGBT Christians would want from me once I was out. There are so many closeted Christians - I get, literally, hundreds of emails from people in that position, asking me for encouragement and advice. So I had to really be ready to come out - and that took me a few years.
Vicky Beeching was a hugely influential Christian singer and songwriter, playing to thousands of people at mega churches and religious festivals across America’s Bible Belt. Then, in 2014, she came out as gay in an interview with The Independent. We chatted to Vicky about her experience, what she’s learnt and how she believes being LGBT and Christian aren’t mutually exclusive. You came out in a big way, which must’ve taken a lot of courage? I was extremely nervous about it! In that Independent interview I finally said the one thing I thought I could never say. Coming out is, I imagine, always really challenging, whoever you are and whatever you circumstances. For me it was certainly something I had to seriously consider over a period of years. Much of my life, community and income was potentially in jeopardy from choosing to speak up, so it was something I took
For those who don’t know your story yet, what was it that made you afraid to speak up about being gay? My upbringing was in a very traditional Christian church, family and culture. From my late teens I began writing songs and getting them published by large Christian music publishers. This became my full-time job. People outside of the church may not know about the large industry that surrounds Christian music, especially in the States. The culture of that industry is very conservative. The majority of churches in the Bible Belt have an active opposition to gay marriage and preach against the LGBT ‘lifestyle’ (as they’d call it). Many also prevent women from being ordained or from preaching, so there's a lot of inequality and discrimination there on the grounds of gender and sexual orientation. So from a young age you were somewhat locked into that culture as a result of your career choice and your upbringing? Yes. My first song was published at the age of 17. My income came from being permanently on tour, playing in multiple mega-churches and large
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • February 2016
Christian festivals (comparable to Glastonbury). My family and close friends were all from the same kind of churches, so it really was my whole universe. People saw me as a role model for Christian young people. So I never drank, never had relationships, never even dated. I just toured constantly and became a workaholic. I was incredibly lonely and felt really hopeless about the future as I assumed I’d always be alone. It was a really heavy weight to carry and I was terrified to even talk to anyone about it. Then what happened - you started to see an effect on your health? Yes, after burying myself in work for the best part of a decade, I developed an auto-immune illness and, to my shock, the doctor said the treatment I needed was a form of chemotherapy. So suddenly the touring stopped and I was just home all the time resting, or in and out of hospitals and clinics. What did they think caused your illness? The UK specialist - one of the leading researchers on the condition in the country - said he believes the illness is almost always rooted in emotional stress or trauma. It didn’t take rocket science to figure out that the twenty years of stress from being in the closet had finally impacted my health. Thankfully the chemo worked and my condition is now in remission. The relationship between religion and LGBT equality is notoriously controversial… Very sadly, a lot of society’s negativity towards LGBT people can be traced back to the church, and specifically the interpretation of certain Bible verses. Many people have asked me why, after coming out, I haven’t abandoned my faith too, seeming as it was the church that kept me in the closet for so long. But my faith is a really genuine part of who I am. So I would be failing to be true to myself if I didn’t identify as a Christian. God has always felt very real to me and has been one of my biggest sources of comfort and support during my painful journey towards coming out. Somehow I found myself running toward him/her with this struggle, rather than away, which is great. The church still needs to drastically change though and there is much work to be done. But I want to be part of that change - otherwise if everyone leaves, there will be no catalysts to help it happen. Many Christians are starting to raise their voices and say they are LGBT affirming. A whole grassroots movement is springing up and gathering
momentum. I believe we will see major change in the church in the next few decades. At Pride in London this year, lots of Christians marched to show their support - that kind of presence hopefully helps change the stereotypes in many people’s minds. Alongside your broadcasting work with the BBC and writing your book what else are you working on? Life feels pretty busy! The book is taking up a lot of hours per week. But I’m also doing a part-time PhD in theology, researching the Bible and its place within the debate around LGBT equality. Some other encouraging doors opened after coming out too - the United Nations got in touch and are involving me in their work with LGBT people of faith, so I advise them on that and occasionally go out to their offices in New York. I also speak at conferences and events. I was recently diagnosed with M.E/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This has meant I’ve had to slow down my pace a lot; I’m having to learn how to juggle everything wisely so I don’t burn myself out. If you could go back and tell your younger self something, what would it be? I would go back and tell my thirteen year old self that everything was going to be ok. That she could be gay and Christian; that the two can co-exist. I would tell her to believe in herself and dare to be authentic. I wish someone could’ve said those words to me at thirteen and saved me so many years of pain. My goal is now to be that voice - to say the things I needed to hear, so that LGBT people feel confident and free to be their unique, beautiful, irreplaceable selves.
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • February 2016
… t u o b a Let’s talk
loneliness Loneliness is something we don’t often talk about. We’re embarrassed to say we’re lonely, and we don’t always know how to react when we hear others say it. But it is a very real problem, and one that we know affects 1 in 7 of our own members and colleagues.
Loneliness can affect anyone at any time of their life, especially after a change in situation; like moving to a new area, becoming a parent, going off to university, or coping with a bereavement or illness. Coming out, or struggling with confusion around sexuality or gender can also make people feel very isolated, especially if they expect negative reactions or discrimination from those around them. A common misconception is that loneliness is something that affects older people the most, but in our digital world, social media users with hundreds of ‘friends’ can often be the loneliest as they lack genuine connections and a face-to-face chat.
Lara
Loneliness can be even more overwhelming at Christmas, when everyone is bombarded by images of happy families and big groups of friends enjoying the picture-perfect Christmas* (*does not actually exist outside of TV-land!). In June, Co-op colleagues and members were given the opportunity to vote for the issue that we tackle through our new format Charity Partnership. They voted to tackle loneliness in our communities and to work in partnership with the British Red Cross, recognising that work needs to be done around the hidden issue that is loneliness. The exciting thing is that this is different to what we have done before. Fundraising over the next 18 months will allow us to help transform the lives of thousands of people living in our communities, but our partnership with the British Red Cross isn’t just about fundraising. We also want to tackle loneliness through raising national awareness and campaigning, and by asking our colleagues to volunteer their time in their communities. This is not the first time that we’ve worked with the British Red Cross to respond to an issue of national significance. In 1945 we raised funds for the British Red Cross from sales of our own brand Co-operative tea. The funds that were raised helped vulnerable people both at home and overseas respond to the aftermath of WW2. It’s great to see that 70 years on, we are once again uniting to respond to important, although very different, issues of the day. If you’d like to help us fundraise to tackle loneliness, you can start by ordering a fundraising pack from www.co-operative.coop/ charitypartnership. It contains lots of information and inspirational ideas to help you organise an event or challenge.
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
10
Respect Magazine • February 2016
Ten ways you can fundraise to tackle loneliness 1
Put something on Ebay as a charity auction and donate the money you get
2
If you have a trade or skill, donate the money you receive on a particular day to the campaign if you get in the local paper it’ll be great publicity too!
3
If you’re a known chatterbox, ask your colleagues to sponsor you to be silent for a day!
4
Have a girls/lads night in with DVDs and snacks and donate the money you’d usually spend on a night out
5
Give up one indulgence for a week or two, and donate the money saved
6
Walk instead of getting public transport or using the car - you’ll get fit and save money that you can donate too
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Instead of Christmas presents, ask family and friends to make a donation to the campaign
8
Shave your legs or your head for money!
9
Host a charity ‘come dine with me’ event, and charge friends to come along
10 Get sponsored to do something silly (maybe check with your boss first if you’re planning to turn up to meetings dressed as a banana!)
For more information on how to fundraise, go to www.co-operative.coop/ charitypartnership
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • February 2016
the
best LGBT TV of 2015 I’m a self-confessed TV junkie. Crime dramas, comedies and documentaries are my drugs of choice, but I’m also a sucker for TV programmes with real, multi-dimensional LGBT characters. In the past, these have been few and far between, but the rise of internet-based streaming services such as Netflix has meant that producers have had to rely less on the backing of risk averse networks looking to please the widest possible audience base. The result has been bold, LGBT-inclusive programming that is, in the case of Netflix’s standout Orange Is The New Black, often highly commercially successful.
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • February 2016
Commercial networks on both sides of the Atlantic have also started being braver. Russell T Davies’ E4 drama series, Banana, starred actress and comedian Bethany Black, the first Trans woman to play a Trans character on British TV. Over on the BBC, London Spy featured out actor Ben Whishaw, in a gay title role. All in all it’s been a pretty good year for LGBT people on the small screen, let’s hope next year gets even better.
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt OK, so it only features one gay character, but Netflix’s The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is possibly the funniest thing we’ve seen in a while, so we just have to include it. The narrative follows Kimmy Schmidt as she adjusts to life in New York City after her rescue from a doomsday cult in Indiana. The laughs come from Kimmy’s relationship with flatmate, Titus, and new boss, Jacqueline. Although the subject matter is fairly unconventional, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is written and produced by Tina Fey of Mean Girls fame, which is reason enough to give it a go. Definitely one to binge-watch on Netflix.
London Spy Ru Paul’s Drag Race To say that Drag Race is a cult favourite is a bit of an understatement. The reality TV series, which is a bit like America’s Next Top Model with drag queens, has spawned a huge fan following, with the most famous queens selling out shows all over the world. Camp and over the top, but with real heart, it’s an absolute joy to watch. Previously only available online, season six is currently showing on TruTV. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed.
One of the BBC’s flagship programmes of 2015, London Spy attracted some serious acting talent, with Jim Broadbent and Charlotte Rampling both taking supporting roles. The five part series follows the hedonistic and hopelessly romantic Danny as he investigates the suspicious death of his boyfriend Alex, an MI6 agent. During his search for the truth, Danny uncovers a lot of secrets about Alex’s past and the whole series is as much about the lies we tell to ourselves and our loved ones as it is a murder mystery. This is highlighted by the fact we only ever find things out when Alex does, leaving us guessing right until the very end.
Sense-8 Another Netflix original, this sci-fi drama follows eight strangers from different parts of the world who suddenly become mentally and emotionally linked after all experiencing the same violent vision. In terms of queer representation, Sense 8 features trans actress Jamie Clayton as Nomi Marks, a Trans woman in a same sex relationship and Miguel Ángel Silvestre Rambla as Lito, a closeted actor living in Mexico City. The series is also directed by Trans director Lana Wachowski who, along with her brother Andy, also brought us The Matrix trilogy.
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • February 2016
Colleague profile…
n o t l r a C Jo Barclaythe North West to know their HIV status.
Tell us a bit about your day job at the Co-op? I’m the Policy Manager within HR - so I’m responsible for developing all of the employment policies which apply to colleagues across the Co-op.
Jo
How long have you been working here? I joined the Co-op in 2006 on the Graduate Programme - I didn’t really think at that point that I would still be here over nine years later! Tell us a bit about the George House Trust? George House Trust is the largest HIV charity in the North West - and the North West has the largest population of people living with HIV in the UK outside of London and the South East. The charity provides services to people who are newly diagnosed with HIV and who are living with HIV, including counselling, support and information. Although HIV is now considered to be a long-term, manageable condition if it’s diagnosed early enough, there are often complexities, so the charity also runs a number of projects to empower people to live more healthily with HIV - such as the Food for Life Project which educates people about nutrition and gives practical cookery skills and the Money Advice service, which provides advice and advocacy to help people manage their finances, including debt management. They also work to raise awareness of HIV, challenging stigma and misinformation, promote safer sex (they offer condoms discreetly in the post!) and encourage all sexually active people in
In addition to the small team of employees, George House Trust has many volunteers - who support with peer mentoring, driving people to medical appointments, packing and issuing food parcels, fundraising and supporting events. I’d encourage anyone who’s interested in volunteering to contact them as there are a wide range of one-off and longer-term opportunities and training is given for each role – visit ght.org.uk/volunteer for more info. How did you come to get involved with the charity? I’d been thinking for a while that I wanted to volunteer, to give something back to my community - but also as a way of using the skills and knowledge I’ve developed over my career, and learning some new ones in a different type of organisation and sector. I was aware of George House Trust through events in Manchester's gay village and seeing them in the Pride parade, so when I saw an advert in an HR magazine saying they were looking to co-opt someone with HR skills to join the Board of Trustees, it seemed like a great opportunity to get involved. What does your role as a trustee involve? The role of a Trustee is to provide strategic guidance to the organisation which includes ensuring that the charity is being properly run, that funds are being used appropriately and is able to keep offering the great range of services to people who are living with HIV in Greater Manchester. We are responsible for ensuring the organisation fulfils its legal obligations and works to its charitable aims and objectives. As the HR Trustee, I also chair a sub-committee which looks at employment provisions for the team at George House Trust as well as arrangements for the many volunteers and bring my knowledge of HR from other sectors to support the Joint CEOs.
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • February 2016
What have you learned from your experience? I’ve already learnt a lot in the eight months I’ve been involved so far. As George House Trust is a small organisation, I’ve been able to see how all of the elements operate and come together - how budgets are set and tracked, how the marketing plan is developed, the approach to staff pay and the governance structure - which I wouldn’t get the opportunity to do somewhere as big as the Co-op.
George House Trust are keen to grow individual giving and legacy donations which give them flexibility to deliver services and respond to changing needs.
Sitting on the Board I need to work well with the other Trustees, who all come from a range of backgrounds and bring different skills, but also to challenge where necessary to ensure that actions are taken in the best interest of the charity. I’ve also learnt a lot about HIV itself and met a lot of great people - some living with HIV, some not - who are all passionate about ensuring that George House Trust continues to meet the changing needs of its service users.
We have a Service User Conference on Wednesday 2 March which is open to everyone living with HIV in the North West - see the website for more details.
It’s great that I get to use my HR skills to help a charity, while learning a lot of new skills which will help my own personal and career development. If you’re considering volunteering, don’t be afraid to think about what you want to get out of it too - it doesn’t all need to be about selfless toil! What’s the biggest challenge George House Trust is facing at the minute? In this time of austerity, all local authorities and public health budgets are coming under greater and greater pressure. Councils and funding bodies are having to make tough decisions about where to put their resources. George House Trust has the public health contract for Greater Manchester to provide all HIV support services to those newly diagnosed with HIV and those living with HIV in Greater Manchester. It is really important that HIV support continues to be a priority, as there are still many unknowns - the long term effects of taking HIV medication long term, for example.
What does 2016 look like for George House Trust? Well, we are now half-way through George House Trust’s 30th Birthday celebrations, so there are lots of things going on.
We’re also working on making a short film about HIV in the North West and the work of George House Trust over its 30 year history. We’re also developing a campaign to tackle HIV stigma which will be rolling out in 2016. Then, of course, we will be getting ready for Manchester Pride again and George House Trust’s HIV candlelit vigil which closes the festival. Although we have come a long way in our understanding of HIV/AIDS, people with the virus still face a lot of stigma. What can people do to tackle that? I think education is key, as people tend to be more afraid of things they don’t know. The more people talk about HIV, they break down some of the misconceptions, stereotypes and the fear that surrounds HIV and begin to understand that it is a long-term medical condition like many others, and with early diagnosis and the right treatment people with HIV can live full and productive lives. For more information about George House Trust, visit. www.ght.org.uk
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • February 2016
LOVE SHOULDN’T HURT Contrary to what some mainstream domestic violence campaigns can imply, domestic abuse is most certainly an LGBT issue. Domestic abuse is the misuse of power and control over one person by another and can take many different forms, including physical, sexual, emotional, verbal and financial abuse. 25% of LGBT individuals suffer through violent or threatening relationships with partners or ex-partners, similar to the percent of domestic abuse against heterosexual women. However, domestic violence for LGBT victims is most frequently under-reported. Inclusive studies show that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men will be victims of domestic abuse, with domestic violence being the biggest killer of women aged 18 – 40 in the world. This last statistic was also raised at the London premiere of the film Suffragette in September 2015 by activists lying on the red carpet in reference to the 2 women each week killed by a partner or ex-partner.
Paula relationships with both men and women. One in four lesbians and bisexual women have experienced domestic abuse in a relationship. Two thirds of those say the perpetrator was a woman, a third a man. Stonewall’s Gay and Bisexual Men’s Health Survey establishes that domestic abuse directed towards men is also worryingly high. It stated that half of all gay and bisexual men have experienced at least one incident of domestic abuse from a family member or partner since the age of 16.
Even though there are parallels between straight and LGBT domestic violence, LGBT victims can have additional complications that make reporting the abuse that much harder. These range from the threat of being ‘outed’ either by their abuser or having to disclose their sexuality to the police, fear of a lack of support outside their local LGBT community as well as the misunderstanding that domestic abuse does not happen in same sex relationships. Prescription for Change, Stonewall’s research into the health needs of lesbian and bisexual women, has found worrying levels of domestic abuse in
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • February 2016
The stats show that if we haven’t ourselves gone through an experience of emotional or physical abuse, most certainly a friend, relative or work colleague will have. With this in mind it is important to make sure this is a topic that can be broached in the workplace, with colleagues knowing support is available.
Behaviours in the workplace that could be warning signs of domestic abuse are: G Obvious injuries such as bruises, black eyes, broken bones, hearing loss - these are often attributed to “falls,” “being clumsy,” or “accidents.” G Clothing that is inappropriate for the season, such as long sleeves and turtlenecks - also wearing sunglasses and unusually heavy makeup. G Uncharacteristic absenteeism or lateness for work. G Spending long hours at work, unwillingness to go home. G Change in job performance: poor concentration and errors, slowness, inconsistent work quality. G Isolation; unusually quiet and keeping away from others.
According to research, 75% of domestic abuse victims are targeted by their abuser at work. This may be due to the perpetrator no longer knowing where their victim lives but knowing their work address and that they are likely to continue working. The abuse can take the form of intimidation, watching, calls, emails and even passing messages through unknowing colleagues. Information on the Co-op’s Domestic Violence Policy can be found on the employee intranet and if you or someone you know is being affected by domestic abuse, please know that support will be provided through line managers, HR and the Employee Assistance Programme. You can also contact the organisations noted at the end of the article. Campaigns such as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on the 25th November help to raise general awareness and the work of LGBT specific charities such as Broken Rainbow UK and End the Fear.co.uk provide information and support.
Recently there has also been major legislation changes made through the power of campaigning. The new criminal offence of coercive control came into effect from the 29th December 2015. Cosmopolitan’s article summed this change up: “While previous legislative framework failed to recognise coercive control as a form of domestic violence (only individual incidents of physical injury, like a black eye for example, could result in arrest) now a whole new set of behaviours can be classed as domestic violence or abuse. Coercive control is defined as ongoing psychological behaviour, rather than isolated or unconnected incidents, with the purpose of removing a victim’s freedom.” If found guilty, the abuser could now be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison. The continued pressure on the Government to update legislation, engaging awareness campaigns, and the work of charities are vital to improve the safety of both women and men whatever their sexual orientation. Statistics; G 38% of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people, and 80% of trans people experience domestic violence and abuse. G On average a victim will suffer 35 assaults or 100 incidences of stalking before ringing the police. G Suicide attempts linked to domestic abuse are currently 30 a day with 3 per week succeeding. G 75% of victims are targeted at work by their abusers, through intimidation, calls, emails or in person.
Employee Assistance Programme 0800 970 1030 (Freephone 24 hour) www.validium.com Username: Coop Password: Group1844 Broken Rainbow www.broken-rainbow.org.uk 0300 999 5428 help@broken-rainbow.org.uk Freephone National Domestic Violence Helpline 24Hr 0808 200 0247 MALE 0808 801 0327
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • February 2016
The Co-operative Group are recognised in the
l l a w e n o t S
Index 2016
Once again The Co-operative Group have been recognised as the leading LGBT retailer in the Stonewall Index 2016, being ranked 72nd within the Top 100 Index. The index has now entered its 12th year and received over 400 submissions from individual organisations, this is the highest since 2005 when the Index was first launched. In addition to this process Stonewall also surveyed over 60,000 employees.
Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive, Stonewall said: “All of those employers that secured a place in the Stonewall Top 100 Employers 2016 list performed fantastically this year. We have had more submissions than ever before and so making the list is a huge achievement. I’d like to thank all of those organisations for their continued efforts to ensure that their lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff feel comfortable to bring their whole selves to work and are accepted without exception”. This year’s placing at 72 is a slide from our 2015 place of 26 and we will be using the feedback obtained from Stonewall to pursue a Co-op wide
focus on these areas to push best practice as we continue with our inclusive journey.
Adrian Shooter, HR Director of Executive Talent, Resourcing & Diversity said: “The stonewall index is a benchmark of not only our commitment to the LGBT agenda but a marker for all organisations determined to provide a fully inclusive workplace and who wish to remain employers of choice. We will be doubling our efforts this year but remain positive about our placing and recognition as the leading UK Retailer in the Top 100. We would also like to thank Respect the Co-operative’s own LGBT network for their hard work and contribution ensuring we are highlighted in this area.”
Respect is the Group’s LGBT network. We’re looking for colleagues from across the country to join our steering group and help plan an exciting calendar of activity for 2016 and beyond. Everyone is welcome to join, so if you’re e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT interested, contact a member of the team at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop
needs you!
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT