We are halfway through LGBT+ History Month, which takes place every February. It’s a month to celebrate how far we have come for LGBT+ rights. It’s also a month to push for better. True LGBT+ equality is sadly not yet a reality.
To me, equality is not negotiable and discrimination in any form has no place in our workplaces. Equality is a trade union matter.
The fight for LGBT+ rights is an essential battle for us as trade unionists. We need to stand with all workers – an injustice to one is an injustice to us all. I stand proudly and unequivocally in defence of LGBT+ rights and I am proud to be a trans ally.
Since the Supreme Court decision in April last year, many of our trans, non-binary and gender diverse members have spoken to me about how much this decision has impacted their work life, with many saying they have seen a notable rise in harassment and discrimination.
I’ve had members say they no longer feel comfortable going to work for fear of being outed or being made to feel like second-class citizens by employers who have totally misunderstood the Supreme Court decision and are making decisions without UNISON involvement. I know some employers have gone as far as entirely removing their trans equality policy; in many instances these were based on our own trans equality model policy, which we still stand by.
This is why as a trade union we are pushing for a change to the law for legal gender recognition. We have fallen behind too many other countries when it comes to legal gender recognition and UNISON will be leading to make that change happen.
It’s not just employers that are letting our LGBT+ members down. We have been campaigning to ban conversion therapy in the UK for years. Yet, despite progress in the European Union over the last couple of weeks, it is still not outlawed here in the UK, even though it was listed as a commitment in the government’s manifesto. This vile and despicable practice must end now. It has no place in our society.
I believe that UNISON is the best trade union to pick up this challenge and fight for LGBT+ workers. Our amazing LGBT+ self-organised group is unique – there is no other structure like it in any other trade union. As it is Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, I am enormously proud that we are one of the only trade unions who are actively organising asexual (ace) and aromantic members. They have formed their own network within our LGBT+ self organised group and are growing exponentially. This is one of the many organising wins the SOG has had over the decades, and I look forward to working with our LGBT+ members to achieve much more over the next five years.
So, what can you do to push for LGBT+ equality at work?
- If you are an LGBT+ member, become active in UNISON’s LGBT+ self-organised group. If your branch hasn’t got an active LGBT+ group, then each of our regions has a regional group, so get involved.
- On our LGBT+ website, we have a range of bargaining advice and guides to assist in organising your workplace around LGBT+ issues.
- If your employer doesn’t have a trans equality policy, our trans equality model policy has been adopted by over 80 workplaces across the UK.
- Have you done our trans ally training? I have, and despite being the proud auntie to a trans nephew, who I’ve supported throughout their life journey, I came away understanding even more of the difficulties and challenges faced. And we have over 80 lay trans ally trainers ready to run sessions in your workplace, branch or region. Get in touch to organise a session.
- Our ace (asexual) and aromantic awareness training has been another big success. I haven’t participated in this session yet but intend to do so soon. Get in touch to organise a session for your regional group, branch or workplace.
