Gay women working in the City are three times more likely than their male colleagues to keep quiet about their sexuality.
However – according to research for recruitment and human resources firms Joslin Rowe Associates and Origin HR, both owned by Blomfield Group – the Square Mile has worked hard to overcome its traditional image as an inhospitable environment for gay and lesbian employees.
While London is Europe’s leading financial centre, it is also the continent’s unrivalled gay and lesbian capital. In the run up to the Civil Partnerships act, the Treasury estimated that 6 per cent of Britons were lesbian or gay.
In London that figure rises to nearer 10 per cent, thanks largely to tolerant attitudes and a high-profile gay subculture.
Keith Robinson, managing director of Origin HR, said:
“Of course there is no reason why people should disclose their sexuality at work.”
“It is irrelevant to their ability to do the job. The City has made huge strides in recent years, but is still a challenging and competitive place to work.”
“The reluctance of women to come out as lesbians possibly reflects the fact that women already feel they have to fight hard to maintain equality with men.”