Homophobia in UK Prison

Homophobia is rife in a UK Prison in the southern county of Devon according to a new report by prison watchdogs.   However, this homophobic behaviour isn't from the inmates, nope,  it's from the staff -  the prison officers themselves.

As reported in the UK's Telegraph newspaper,  one prison officer at HMP Dartmoor handed gay news and lifestyle mag Gay Times to a gay inmate in a brown paper bag because the officer 'didn't want to touch it'    

Prison inspectors were very concerned about the homophobia and general attitudes of some officers, who refused to push prisoners in wheelchairs.    An investigation was launched after consistent reports of homophobic attitudes by some staff by the 23 gay prisoners at the  Dartmoor prison.

"Throughout our inspection we were concerned about consistent reports of homophobic attitudes by some staff, although no formal complaints had been submitted by prisoners"   The report states, "Several prisoners told inspectors that staff referred to them as ‘girls’ or ‘ladies’ and one gay prisoner said he was handed a copy of Gay Times in a brown paper bag because, according to the officer, he did not want to touch it."

The report also added that inmates  described a "significant group of staff who had no interest in assisting prisoners, and were said to be uncaring and, in some cases, obstructive and rude".   It continued "Prisoners gave many anecdotes and examples of unprofessional, and even delinquent, behaviour by staff.   They said such staff were dismissive and disrespectful, and gave examples of inappropriate language used over the public address system, homophobic behaviour, a determination not to use preferred names or titles, and an unpreparedness to push prisoners in wheelchairs."

Jason Shaw

GayAgenda.com's UK Correspondent

 Jason's personal blog is The Seafront Diaries,  

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