People are being asked about their sexual orientation, any ‘hidden impairments’ and whether they are transgender when they want to join a library. A national newspaper has learned that councils, including Islington and Haringey, are asking for the information reportedly in an effort to comply with equal opportunity rules. But critics attacked the questions, calling them unnecessary, intrusive and a waste of taxpayers’ money. In Islington people are quizzed on whether they have a ‘hidden impairment’, such as cancer, HIV or diabetes. They are also asked, ‘do you consider yourself to be a Gypsy or Traveller’, whether they are transgender, and: ‘how would you describe your sexual orientation’. Haringey Council asks: ‘Does your gender differ from your birth sex?’ Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘Taxpayers will be alarmed to discover that their hard-earned cash is being wasted on such unnecessary and intrusive questions for people who just want to take out a book’.

Pray: for common sense to return to these councils so that intrusive personal questions will be dropped. (Pr.16:2)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/joining-an-islington-library-are-you-transgender/