Gender bender
Sir: In his article 'Straight and narrow' (31 January) Leo McKinstry listed some outlandish examples of projects undertaken by the sexual discrimination industry. Perhaps I could list just two more from my experience in the former Lord Chancellor's department.
Its Learning at Work week in 2002 offered (in work time) a session entitled 'A Short History of Sexuality'. According to the blurb, 'rather than asking: "How does a person become a homosexual?", the seminar addresses a different question: "How does a person become a heterosexual?"' Or how about 'A Short History of Transgendered Identities', where 'there will be an attempt to define the different categories of transgendered people and we will explore how terms like "transsexual", 'transvestite" and "gender dysmorphia" came into being'?
Peter Simple couldn't make it up.
Name and Address Supplied
From ar Laura Willoughby Sir: I read with interest Leo McKinstry's article in which he accuses local government of creating heterophobia.
As elected representatives of the local community, councils have a duty to ensure that the needs of all local people are met.
Sexuality — the New Agenda, is not a 'hardline ideology of gay rights'. It is guidance designed to help local councils deliver services to everyone, fairly and effectively recognising that our society is varied and complex, and that gay and lesbian people face discrimination that others don't. Of course, this should not just be the responsibility of the public sector, but while attitudes like those of the author in this instance prevail, I fear that much of the work will be left to those of us accountable to the community to deliver what it needs. Clearly times have changed since Leo was a Labour councillor in Islington.
Mr McKinstry quite rightly highlights some of the guidance we have given to local authorities. I am pleased that he has taken the time to read the report and point out some of the ideas within it. It is pitiful that he felt the need to take a juvenile dig at some of the language used, but I am confident that the majority of readers will see Leo's words for what they are — the ramblings of someone writing about an issue which they feel uncomfortable with and lack an adult understanding of.
alr Laura Willoughby
Chair of the Local Government Association's Equalities Executive, London SW1
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