Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC) has hit back after it was claimed they are asking staff to take part in a 'heterosexuality quiz' to help them gain a greater understanding of gay issues.
BCC runs a course entitled Respecting Sexuality, and this week it was claimed by a national newspaper that it includes a section in which staff are asked questions to help them better understand the issues faced by their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender colleagues.
Questions asked include "What do you think caused your heterosexuality?",(errr? I do what comes natural to me?) "If you've never slept with a member of the same sex, how do you know you won't prefer it?" (I dont fancy women), and "Is it possible your heterosexuality comes from a neurotic fear of others of the same sex?" (how neurotic is the nutcase who thought of that question?)
*My answers in brackets!
Part of the course also includes a film which follows the experiences of four fictional employees at BCC.
One employee at the council, who asked not to be named, said: "It's ludicrous. I couldn't believe it when I heard we are asking people to take part in this.
"I can't see what can be learned from this that is of any relevance. It seems like another ridiculously over the top politically correct initiative."
However, BCC said that the course is very relevant and has been praised by Stonewall, the organisation which works for equality for gay and lesbian people.
A spokesman for BCC said: "We have a legal obligation not to discriminate under equality legislation, now incorporated into the Equality Act 2010, which becomes law in October.
"The new act is the most significant piece of equality legislation for many years.
"Training courses such as this one will help our employees understand individual needs, so that they may design and deliver excellent services to our residents.
"The course has been praised as best practice by the lobbying group Stonewall and includes questions to provoke attenders' thought processes and to put themselves in someone else's shoes.
"Questions are not used in quiz format directed to individuals but as a learning tool during the course."
One question for BCC ... How much did this rediculous and provacative questionaire cost us tax payers?
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