Bristol City Council is third most gay-friendly local authority

Bristol City Council has been ranked the third most gay-friendly local authority behind only Brighton and Hive City Council and Leicestershire County Council.

The authority has also been placed the 21st most gay-friendly employer in the country by Stonewall the equal rights campaigning and lobbying group.

Councillor Gus Hoyt, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and the Environment, said: "Since 2010 when we set out to improve our policies and procedures with regards to lesbian, gay and bisexual people has been outstanding. For Bristol City Council to rate so highly in the Stonewall Index ratings is fantastic news.

"The council is now the third highest-ranked local authority in the country and the 21st employer overall. This is a considerable achievement and reflects all the hard work that has gone over the last three years in particular to improve the authority's performance on equalities. Next year I would like us to aim to be the best."

As well as asking the council to evidence whether it has appropriate policies and practices in place, Stonewall also asks individual employees to fill in a separate questionnaire setting out how they think the organisation is doing.