Sexualities Equalities and the New Managerialism: Local Government in the UK

Measurement, as one aspect of managerialist practice, has become an important and well-documented phenomenon in the
local government arena in the UK. However, there is a lack of research concerning the measurement of equalities work, and in
particular equalities initiatives concerning sexual orientation. Legislative changes support the development of sexualities
equalities initiatives in local authorities, but there is an absence of systems for evaluating such initiatives. This paper aims to
develop performance indicators concerning sexualities initiatives in the context of a critical analysis of managerialism. Current
indices of success can be applied to sexualities work in local government, but these are limited, given the impact of factors
such as homophobia, party politics and local government restructuring. Research findings point to the development of
complementary indicators concerning policy making, anti-discrimination, and community leadership. These factors indicate, to
an extent, the increased significance of governance, including loose linkages between community sector and statutory sector
agencies. However, they also provoke debate concerning the (often hidden) politics of managerialism and the ways in which
equalities work can be advanced via administrative, rather than overtly politicised, procedures. The paper is based on findings
from a large ESRC funded research project.