Stonewall 100: Welsh assembly ‘best place to be gay’

Advocacy group Stonewall has released its annual list of the UK’s best employers for LGBT workers.

The National Assembly for Wales, based in Cardiff, topped the ranking of 100 workplaces judged to be particularly LGBT-friendly.

The devolved parliament received recognition for its LGBT support network, OUT-NAW, and outreach work which has included letting local LGBT groups host events in the assembly building free of charge.

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In a tweet, the Assembly said it was “incredibly honoured” to receive the accolade:

Other employers in the top ten include financial services firm Citi, Newcastle City Council and Cheshire Fire and Rescue.

Each firm was ranked on 10 factors, says The Independent, including “career development, line management, community engagement, training, policy, and whether or not there is an employee network group”.

For the first time, the list assessed employers on their inclusivity towards transgender employees as well as gay, lesbian and bisexual workers.

Stonewall research has found that half of all trans people hide their identity at work for fear of discrimination or abuse, while 12% have experience violence in the workplace at the hands of colleagues or customers.

The Welsh National Assembly was praised for taking measures to support trans and nonbinary employees, such as “updating workplace systems to offer an Mx title, as opposed to Mr, Ms or Mrs, as well as space for staff to give their own gender term on forms”, City AM reports.

Other organisations commended for their commitment to transgender inclusivity include Sunderland housing association Gentoo and the University of Manchester.

On an industry-by-industry basis, Lloyds was named the most LGBT-friendly workplace in the finance sector, while the Royal Navy and Royal Marines came out on top among defence and security employers.

Here are the top ten LGBT-friendly employees for 2018. The full list can be accessed here.

1. National Assembly for Wales
2. Pinsent Masons LLP
3. Gentoo
4. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
5. Lloyds Banking Group
6. Baker McKenzie
7. Berwin Leighton Paisner
8. Citi
9. Newcastle City Council
10. Victim Support