London: Just over 25 years since Britain's powerful domestic spy agency dropped a ban on hiring homosexuals, MI5 was hailed on Tuesday as the country's most gay-friendly employer.
MI5 was ranked first out of more than 400 organisations by rights group Stonewall in a 2016 Workplace Equality Index for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. Just six years ago, MI5 was ranked at 134th in the index.
"People can only give the best they can give when they feel supported, valued and treated with respect by their colleagues," Andrew Parker, the director general of MI5, told the charity.
"Diversity is vital for MI5, not just because it's right that we represent the communities we serve, but because we rely on the skills of the most talented people whoever they are, and wherever they may be," Parker said.
MI5, established in 1909 to counter German espionage ahead of World War One, fought the Soviet-era KGB during the Cold War and now spends about two thirds of its money on international counter terrorism, predominantly linked to Syria.
British spies in MI5 and other services such as MI6 and GCHQ have for yeats been trying to ditch the perception that they are male-dominated bastions of reaction.
The accolade from Stonewall, complete with a rare public comment from one of Britain's most powerful spy chiefs, will help MI5 pitch itself as a modern spy service.
Of the 4,000 people employed by MI5, 41 per cent are women and just over half are less than 40 years old, according to the spy service.
MI5 was ranked first out of more than 400 organisations by rights group Stonewall in a 2016 Workplace Equality Index for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. Just six years ago, MI5 was ranked at 134th in the index.
"People can only give the best they can give when they feel supported, valued and treated with respect by their colleagues," Andrew Parker, the director general of MI5, told the charity.
MI5, established in 1909 to counter German espionage ahead of World War One, fought the Soviet-era KGB during the Cold War and now spends about two thirds of its money on international counter terrorism, predominantly linked to Syria.
Advertisement
The accolade from Stonewall, complete with a rare public comment from one of Britain's most powerful spy chiefs, will help MI5 pitch itself as a modern spy service.
Advertisement
© Thomson Reuters 2016
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Man Kills Father, Burns Body After He Objected To Homosexuality: UP Cops Top OTT Releases This Week: Murder in Mahim, Doctor Who Season 14, and More Murder in Mahim Review: JioCinema Original Examines Homophobia Through the Lens of a Crime Drama 9 Dead, 2,800 Hurt As Pagers Explode Across Lebanon, Hezbollah Blames Israel 'Pager Bombs' Target Hezbollah In Lebanon. What We Know So Far - 5 Points IndiGo Flight Tailstrike Leaves Huge Dent During Take-Off From Delhi Airport Ghislaine Maxwell's Sex-Trafficking Conviction Upheld, Appeal Planned Stage Set For Phase 1 Of J&K Elections Today, 24 Seats Up For Contest JPMorgan In Talks With Apple Over Goldman Credit Card Partnership: Report Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.