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CompensationEquality, diversity and inclusionLatest NewsPay & benefitsSexual orientation discrimination

Straight bouncer wins £6,000 in landmark sexual orientation case

by Rob Moss 4 Jan 2008
by Rob Moss 4 Jan 2008

A bouncer has been awarded more than £6,000 damages after she was harassed by colleagues for being heterosexual.

Sharon Legg, a bouncer at Dreams gay club in Bournemouth, was repeatedly called “breeder” by her boss and frequently the subject of abuse for not being a lesbian or bisexual.

Legg joined the club in May 2005 and was promoted to head of security a year later. Fellow door staff, all of whom were gay, refused to follow orders and made things difficult for her. She was sacked without warning in June 2006.

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Legg’s barrister Sarah Courtenay used the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulation Act 2003 to win the case, the legislation designed to protect gay staff.

Legg, a mother of four, was awarded £3,000 for injured feelings for being harassed for being straight, and £3,222 for unfair dismissal, although the employment tribunal in Southampton found she he not been sacked for being straight.

Rob Moss

Rob Moss is a business journalist with more than 25 years' experience. He has been editor of Personnel Today since 2010. He joined the publication in 2006 as online editor of the award-winning website. Rob specialises in labour market economics, gender diversity and family-friendly working. He has hosted hundreds of webinar and podcasts. Before writing about HR and employment he ran news and feature desks on publications serving the global optical and eyewear market, the UK electrical industry, and energy markets in Asia and the Middle East.

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