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Clifford Chance set to launch gay network

Ignorance - superficial acceptance If anything, the last comment is clear evidence for why such network support/development groups are necessary - even if law firms are only getting on the bandwagon because it helps them "appear" to mirror their clients' own diversity policies. They wouldn't be doing it otherwise. There are so many complacent straight people who assume that, because there is slightly more gay visibility in the media, acceptance in polite, politically correct society, everything is perfectly fine and how can anyone possibly feel the need to raise his or her head above the parapet and complain. Believe it or not, there remains deep seated discrimination just beneath the surface and behind closed doors in all law firms! The last comment would seem to have been posted by someone who has never suffered the kind of discrimination that is being referred to. Of course the majority does not care, that is because you are the majority and not being discriminated against. In addition, one of the most frustrating phenomena is the issue of gay lawyers who do get promoted to partner level (admittedly a minority, often in employment and family departments - unsurprisingly due to the desire for firms to advertise their gay friendly credentials to clients in fields directly related to discrimination and civil partnership laws) and then take on an "I'm all right Jack" attitude and do nothing to improve the position of their gay colleagues for fear of rocking the boat or for purely selfish reasons. There is a hell of a long way to go.

29-Nov-2007

4:54 pm