The British intelligence service MI5 is pushing to recruit more LGBT people to the organisation, in a move that reflects dramatic changes in the attitudes of the British establishment over the last decade. In a Lego-constructed scene from the near future, a gay 007 enters MI5 UK gay equality group Stonewall has been hired to advise MI5, the domestic arm of the intelligence services, on how to encourage its spies to be more open about their sexuality and how to attract more gay applicants for posts. The contract marks a significant change in stance by MI5. Gays and lesbians were barred from working in sensitive posts in the diplomatic or security services until the early 1990s, a quarter of a century after sexual acts between men were decriminalised in 1967. The ostensible rationale was concern that gay spies could be vulnerable to blackmail, while gay ambassadors could exacerbate tensions between the UK and countries that still criminalise homosexuality. Ben Summerskill, director of Stonewall, told PinkNews.co.uk: "We are delighted that MI5 have decided to explore the pool of talent within the LGBT workforce. "We will encourage graduate recruits to work in this area in the future. This is a sign that people in all sorts of public services are looking in a different way at how to recruit talented people.”
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 19th August 2008 - 10:00am