Out and proud? Social work's relationship with lesbian and gay equality

Major changes in the UK legislative framework to promote the rights of lesbians and gay men have challenged and challenge long-standing heteronormative and heterosexist frames of reference in both social work practice and professional education and the way these are organised. At the same time, government policy within 'transformation' and 'integrated' agendas and recent reviews of the role of social work provide many opportunities for social work to respond in new and different ways to the proposed changes. This Critical Commentary looks at the implications for increased visibility of sexuality within social work and the complexity of managing identities. We will examine how these are debated within the current social, political and legislative environment.