11 Oct 2009
What to do with the church?
Most of us these days are at ease with
our sexuality in all walks of life bar one – our work lives.
Research consistently shows that this is the area that the modern
Irish queer is least comfortable with his or her sexuality becoming
known. The reasons are many and obvious. Work places often contain a
more comprehensive range of ages than ones standard circle of friends
and it can often be thought wise to avoid the topic for fear of
provoking more conservative attitudes. More seriously, it can be
logically thought that openness in this regard could cost you a
promotion or, worse still, your job itself.
One must be advised however, that for
most people under the Employment Equality Act of 1998, discrimination
in the work place on the grounds of sexual orientation is a big no
no. Most people that is, bar those in the employ of a religious
organisation – as they have an exemption under these laws. For
example, if you find yourself as a gay educator in a school run by a
religious institution (a school that is not run by a church is still
somewhat of an oddity in these parts) and the board of management
gets wind of these inclinations this is still more than adequate
grounds for dismissal. Whilst being a clear example of legal
discrimination, this also obviously leaves these teachers open to
blackmail from less than scrupulous students or fellow employees.
The imminent ratification of the Lisbon
treaty however arms us with a tool to rectify this. The above law and
the above exemption has it's roots in European legislation. I
believe this happened through the Treaty of Amsterdam though I'm open
to correction. This exemption can therefore theoretically be removed
via the citizens initiative provision in the Treaty of Lisbon which
allows a piece of European law to be proposed or amended by the
signature of 1 million European citizens.
Europe's record on LGBT rights is solid
and I would be highly confident that even the current centre right
commission would look favourably on such a proposal and make a final
break between church and state (or in this case states).