I got asked my sexual orientation on a work experience form. :/

Lots have optional questions on this for the purpose of "diversity monitoring". If you apply to University with UCAS you will get asked your gender identity and sexuality and also your national identity and religion, but it's optional and the universities can't actually see the information until after they've made a decision on your application, and it's so that then if a university realises no gay people are applying or something it might have an issue putting them off.

This could potentially be for the same type of purpose, lots of large companies do it.

 

I've seen a couple job apps like this, and as McLachlan said, when I applied to university they also had similar questions.
It does seem to be just for diversity statistic reasons... IMO if you're not out or don't want them to know, hit "prefer not to answer" since it's an option, or fill in the wrong answers if it's not (eg, my university app only had straight/gay, male/female). Yeah, it will mess with the stats I suppose, but I dont think it's really vital info in the way work experience or your high school grades would be.

 

Oh my! They can't actually ask you that so it's a good thing that you put prefer not to answer. I've never had that come up in an interview and most certainly would not answer.

 

I guess it depends on the job. The security services in my country routinely ask about the applicant's sexual orientation and possible out status if you want to work for them. They also ask about other potentially awkward questions. It's only relevant when you are in the closet and don't want to come out. They want to make sure you cannot be blackmailed by this kind of information. Apparently they are concerned that this sort of information being used by foreign intelligence services in blackmailing their operatives.

You are not seeking a position in MI5 or MI6? I'm not sure if you are old enough for them

 

We all know what "prefer not to say" means. Someone straight wouldn't take the risk of not getting a job/place just for the sake of playing smart.

 

It's illegal to ask about sexual orientation on a job application. That's discrimination.
Are you sure England is that backwards on gay rights?

 

In most jurisdictions it's legal to ask if the information is relevant for the job. In most cases this is not the case. Also, for monitoring diversity data, it's OK to anonymously ask sexual orientation.

 

Hey it's a standard part of an application form in England for medium/large companies but it's not because they want to discriminate it is for statistics and was designed so they can see how many of the work force are in the minorities be that of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, religion etc. As some others have said its not compulsory so you can always chose prefer not to say.

I sympathise that your Mum was there with you and that must have been really awkward but it seems she didn't think anything of you changing it.