July 6, 2021
1 min read

UK Foreign Office sorry for LGBT staff ban

The official said he wanted “to apologise publicly for the ban and the impact it had on our LGBT staff and their loved ones, both here in the UK and abroad.”…reports Asian Lite News.

The UK Foreign Office apologized on Monday for the historic ban that prevented LGBT people from working in the British diplomatic service until 1991.

In a message to staff, Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Head of the Diplomatic Service said: “The ban was in place because there was a perception that LGBT people were more susceptible than their straight counterparts to blackmail and, therefore, that they posed a security risk.”

The official said he wanted “to apologise publicly for the ban and the impact it had on our LGBT staff and their loved ones, both here in the UK and abroad.”

Baron claimed, however, that since the ban was lifted 30 years ago, the Foreign Office had made “great progress” in employing LGBT people and becoming a champion for LGBT rights around the world.

Xinhua quoting UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab reported that he also thanked the LGBT diplomats who represented the UK in the past or are working in the foreign service, and highlighted that as a co-chair of the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC), alongside Argentina, the UK is working with 41 partner countries to tackle discriminatory laws and prejudice globally.

The official apology comes as the UK prepares to co-host an ERC conference on July 6-7 as a preamble of the global LGBT global conference to be held in person in London in June 2022. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Violence against LGBTI people increased during Covid: EU

READ MORE-Biden recognises LGBTQ Pride Month

Previous Story

No plans to reduce gap between Covid jabs

Next Story

Now or Never: Johnson Sets Out Freedom Day Plans

Latest from -Top News

Awami League Slams ‘Fascist’ Yunus

The videos from the protest shared on the party’s social media page showed several party activists marching through the streets of Dhaka in support of Hasina…reports Asian Lite News Hundreds of Awami

India Evacuates Students from Tehran

The Ministry also said that the Indian Embassy is continuously in touch with the community to provide all feasible assistance….reports Asian Lite News Amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, India has

Trump: Get Out of Tehran Now!

The US President also announced that he would cut short his visit to the Group of 7 (G7) summit in Canada to closely monitor the situation …reports Asian Lite News US President

UN Slams Bangladesh’s Party Ban Law

UN noted that prohibiting political parties would hinder a genuine transition to multiparty democracy…reports Asian Lite News UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has voiced deep concern over recent legislative changes enacted

Iran Hits Key Israeli Oil Facility

Three company employees were killed in the pre-dawn attack on Monday night, which ignited fires at the strategic complex….reports Asian Lite News Bazan, Israel’s largest oil refinery company, announced that all of
Go toTop