Equal Opportunities Policy

The need for an Equal Opportunities Policy (EOP) was discussed at a GALYIC youth group meeting on 25th January 2000. This same policy was amended and agreed at a meeting of the GALYIC Youth Council on 4th February 2010.

It was agreed that the purpose of the EOP was to prevent discrimination; to ensure fair opportunities for everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, class, gender, size, gender identity, trans-status, hair colour, etc.

Members accept that as there are few services for young lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people (LGBTs). It was agreed, therefore, that GALYIC must be accessible to ALL young LGBT people.

It was further agreed that the youth group includes discussion/awareness exercises within the activities programme.

Furthermore, there should be a contract for GALYIC members to sign which commits them to being anti-discriminatory (both words and actions) and includes the procedure should one act in a discriminatory fashion, e.g.

1. Sign contract and understand procedure.
2. Take to one side and point out breaking the rules.
3. Ban for one week.
4. Discuss with Group; give person reading material; ban for one month.
5. Total ban.

n.b. ensure policy includes people discriminating against people for any reason and applies both ways, e.g. those who are fat and as well as those who are skinny, female and male, black and white, etc.

Ensure resources reflect diversity and publicity (including where necessary, outreach work) is distributed to minority groups (disabled, minority ethnic, younger end, working class, etc.)