Industry unites on anti-LGBT laws

Knight Frank, Shaftesbury and other real estate businesses are pulling out of holding and attending events at The Dorchester hotel, as the industry takes a very public stand against anti-LGBT+ laws enacted by the Sultan of Brunei, who owns the London landmark. The luxury hotel on Park Lane, W1, regularly hosts property breakfasts, lunches and award ceremonies, but following the implementation of strict new Islamic laws by the hotel’s owner that make same-sex intercourse punishable by stoning to death, the industry has united in its opposition. The Dorchester is one of a collection of hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah. Following the implementation of the laws in Brunei on 3 April, a growing number of property businesses have announced a boycott of The Dorchester. “We consider these new laws unacceptable by any measure.” The Movers & Shakers networking forum is just one of many property businesses which make frequent use of the Mayfair hotel. In an open letter to its network, Movers & Shakers said: “We consider these new laws unacceptable by any measure and they are diametrically opposed to our own position as an organisation and membership group that puts diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything we do. As such, we have taken the decision to suspend the hosting of our events at The Dorchester, and will hold our next London breakfast on Friday 26 April at an alternative location in central London. “It must be said that we have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with The Dorchester, whose management and staff are exemplary. The team there is ‘diverse’ in every sense of the word and it saddens us that they are caught up in the middle of this situation. “That said, the current situation with the hotel’s owner cannot go unchallenged.  We will be reviewing our position in the coming weeks, but unless this situation changes, our move from The Dorchester will be permanent.” “It is heartening that so many in the real estate sector and beyond are now prepared to call out these unacceptable attitudes and behaviours.” West End landlord Shaftesbury, run by chief executive Brian Bickell, himself an openly gay man, has also reacted to the news, cancelling its annual Christmas party at the hotel. Bickell said: “Sadly the discriminatory legislation and medieval penalties adopted in Brunei to persecute LGBT+ and other groups are still seen in many parts of the world. It is heartening that so many in the real estate sector and beyond are now prepared to call out these unacceptable attitudes and behaviours.” Alistair Elliott, group chairman and senior partner at Knight Frank, which regularly hosts client breakfasts at The Dorchester, said it would no longer be doing so.  “We will be hosting our M25 client event at an alternative location,” he said. The agent’s M25 Breakfast was scheduled to be held on 14 May. “The LGBT+ community enriches our industry, and investors expect everyone – irrespective of their background, identity or beliefs – to be treated with respect and dignity.” The Association of Real Estate Funds, which holds its annual awards at the hotel, has also terminated its agreement. A spokesman said: “The LGBT+ community enriches our industry, and investors expect everyone – irrespective of their background, identity or beliefs – to be treated with respect and dignity. We will therefore be looking for alternative arrangements for AREF’s annual dinner.”    EG, working with Freehold and a host of real estate firms, is now calling on the industry to stand up for its LGBT+ people and use its collective power to show that it does not tolerate such inhumane treatment, by refusing to work with or for regimes that fail to respect fundamental human rights. David Mann, co-founder of the support and networking group for LGBT+ real estate professionals, said: “The board of Freehold is proud and humbled by the solidarity so many of our friends and allies have shown to our community in supporting this campaign. It is a significant sea change for the property industry to take a stand on something that perhaps would not have been seen as relevant to us a few years ago. “We respect and embrace differences of all kind but cannot accept murder, violence or imprisonment in the name of religious (or any other) belief simply for identifying as LGBT+ but also for committing adultery or having an abortion. The laws that have recently come into effect in Brunei are barbaric and unacceptable in today’s world and must be called out as such.”  “The laws that have recently come into effect in Brunei are barbaric and unacceptable in today’s world and must be called out as such.”  LandAid chief executive Paul Morrish said the charity was proud to stand alongside partners across the industry in taking a stand against new laws in Brunei. “Brunei’s new laws in relation to the LGBT+ community are unacceptable and go against the values we believe in at LandAid,” said Morrish. “Over a quarter of young homeless people are from the LGBT+ community. As a charity and as an industry we have immense power to stand up for what’s right. For this reason, LandAid is proud to join our partners, EG, Freehold and Movers & Shakers in taking a stand on this fundamental issue. “For our part, we will no longer be the beneficiary of any fundraising events held at The Dorchester, or any other establishment owned by the Sultan of Brunei. This will be a permanent stance unless the situation changes.” To lend your support, e-mail samantha.mcclary@egi.co.uk or tweet @estatesgazette using the hashtag #propertyforpeople