More than half of LGBT people face bullying in the workplace, says new study

Queer people may have made great strides in social progress, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune from bullying and harassment at work. In fact, more than half of LGBT folks have experienced anti-queer actions in the workplace, according to a new study.

The study, which was conducted by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), surveyed more than 1,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers in Great Britain about their experiences in the workplace.

Just over half of all survey respondents (52%) reported at least one case of bullying or harassment over their gender or sexuality over the past five years. That includes 37% of respondents reporting offensive jokes at queer people’s expense, and 28% having heard homophobic, biphobic, or transphobic comments directed at themselves or others. One in 20 respondents (5%) even reported physical violence, threats, and intimidation over their gender or sexual identity.

Given these high levels of harassment, it’s unsurprising that the study also reports nearly one in three LGB people (29%) aren’t open about their sexuality to anyone in their workplace, while just one in four trans people (26%) are open about their gender identity to everyone at work.

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“This snapshot of the experiences of LGBT people at work provides us with the data needed to continue our important work. As we head towards a general election, it’s crucial that all forms of bullying, harassment and discrimination are challenged, and that wider community hate is tackled,” reads a statement from the TUC. “It’s crucial that our reps and activists take these findings and actions to workplaces and organise. There is a role for all of us to play in ensuring that LGBT+ people are treated with respect and dignity and protected from violence and prejudice.”

Check out the full report here.

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