The Greater London Authority has been awarded third place in Stonewall’s annual Workplace Equality Index, highlighting the UK’s top 100 employers for gay people. Workplaces were ranked according to a wide range of policies including effective equality policy and demonstrating how they engage with their lesbian and gay staff. The Index also assesses recruitment and mentoring activity.

Mayor Ken Livingstone said: “This shows that the lesbian and gay-friendly policies of this London administration to promote equality and stamp out homophobia are also reflected here at City Hall in the workplace.

"I am grateful to Stonewall for recognising the work of this administration in promoting lesbian and gay equality and for also placing Transport for London so high in this workplace list.

"We have made it a priority to actively promote lesbian and gay equality through such work as the establishment of Britain's first partnership register, getting holiday firms to change policies discriminating against lesbian and gay couples by banning their ads on the transport network until the policy changed, and through the work we are doing with Stonewall against homophobic bullying in London schools. The high rating for London government in this workplace list reflects that this commitment is taken seriously in all aspects of our policies."

• The Greater London Authority’s placing is the result of work carried across the organisation including:
• Equality and diversity awareness training for all staff 
• A written policy barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and sexual orientation is routinely monitored as part of the application and recruitment process
• Two officers employed by the GLA with dedicated remits to promote sexual orientation equality 
• A lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff network staff group 
• Sponsorship and support for a wide range of gay community initiatives, including the Pride festival, a Health Summit, an anti-homophobic bullying DVD and the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
  
  

Over the next year the Greater London Authority plans to:

• Launch a Sexual Orientation Equality Scheme. As part of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All in 2007, the scheme will outline current and future strategies for gay equality and challenging discrimination on actual or perceived sexual orientation, placing London at the forefront of good practice about sexual orientation equality
• Continue its work to build a culture of equality in the workplace 
• Establish more links with other organisations to share best practice
  

Transport for London came eighth on the Stonewall list - rising from number 58 in last year's index.

Peter Hendy, Commissioner, Transport for London said: “We are absolutely delighted to be 8th in the top 100 employers and thrilled to receive an award for the most improved public organisation. This is great recognition for our progress in promoting equality and diversity in the workplace. We’ve taken part in Stonewall's programme since it began in 2005 and benefited from the chance to step back and measure ourselves against other leading employers. We’re not being complacent- this award is a great incentive to continue our progress.”

All new Greater London Authority staff attends a compulsory training course where the equalities standard expected of all employees is explained. Staff also receive diversity awareness training and are taught to consider the needs of Lesbian and Gay Londoners when developing policies, strategies or projects. 

The Greater London Authority sponsors and supports a wide range of Lesbian and Gay community initiatives and events in London including the Pride parade and festival, Lesbian Gay Bi and Trans gender Health Summit, an anti-homophobic bullying DVD and the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.