Italian Catholic priest Rev. Vitaliano Della Sala, poses with two gay people at the Gay Pride parade in Rome in this July 8, 2000 file photo. Rev. Vitaliano has been removed as pastor of his parish in Sant'Angelo a Scala, near Avellino in southern Italy a
It was, famously, the love that dared not speak its name. Now the word "homosexual" is to disappear altogether as part of a new government drive to promote equality in the workplace.
After complaints from groups that found the word offensive and outdated, Barbara Roche, the Equalities minister, has decided it should be replaced in forthcoming anti-discrimination legislation.
Draft regulations, which are certain to become law by December 2003, instead use the phrase "orientation towards people of the same sex" to define gays and lesbians. The new law will for the first time make it illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee or prospective employee on the ground of sexuality.
The issue first arose when the minister asked for opinions on her plans to protect people who were discriminated at work because of their "homosexual, heterosexual or bisexual" nature. Gay lobby groups,...