Homophobic “banter”
by Philip
To what extent does homophobic banter undermine your dignity at work if you are heterosexual and the “banter” is directed at you?
This is the issue currently going to appeal in the case reported here. A married father of three was subjected to homophobic abuse because he lived in Brighton and had been to boarding school. The abuse included taunts about being a faggot and made up stories about the claimant attending a gay pride rally dressed in tight lycra shorts.
In the article, the Daily Mail rather unfairly excoriates the Equality and Human Rights Commission,chaired by Trevor Phillips, for taking the case on. The basis for the excoriation is the cost of the appeal. In our view this is money well spent as employers and employees need to know how far the law on sexual orientation harassment extends. The secondary point is that if the appeal succeeds the taxpayer is likely to have the costs paid by the other side in any event. Our money is on the appeal succeeding and Trevor Phillips having the last laugh on the critics.
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