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Virgin Holidays publishes report on issues facing LGBT travellers.

More than a third of LGBT holidaymakers have been discriminated against on their travels, according to a report launched on Thursday.

The study found that 37% of LGBT travellers experienced some form of discrimination while on holiday, while 6% said they experienced a threat of physical violence over their sexuality, and 63% refused to travel somewhere that had a hostile attitude toward the LGBT community.

Most shockingly, 80 per cent claimed that holiday companies had failed to inform them of the laws surrounding sexuality in the countries they were travelling to. Many said they had to lie about their sexuality because they feared for their safety.

The discrimination suffered ranges from being refused accommodation to being physically and verbally abused.

Virgin Holidays is to launch a host of initiatives aimed at tackling discrimination against LGBT travellers and the operator’s own staff.

The report on the plight of LGBT holidaymakers was collated by Virgin Holidays who are planning to use the information to help improve holidays for the group. They are holding a conference on LGBT issues and have drawn up a three year plan, with the help of the charity Stonewall, to help prevent discrimination in their company and across the holiday industry.

Sir Richard Branson said: “At Virgin Holidays, we believe everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, has the right to be whoever they are, wherever they are. That’s why it is shocking that in today’s society some of us can’t even enjoy a simple holiday without fear of discrimination.”

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