- Conference
- 2003 National Lesbian & Gay Conference
- Date
- 1 August 2003
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference notes that UNISON no longer sponsors national Pride following policy decisions and concerns expressed by Lesbian and Gay members over the commercialism involved.
Conference is aware that UNISON participated in Pride in the Park this year by holding a stall in the Trades Union Congress (TUC) marquee. Conference recognises the importance of such a presence for recruitment and development of self-organisation.
Conference is disappointed that many people including our low paid members are excluded from participating in such events.
Conference notes that;
1.the cost of admission to pride in the Park varied from £20 to £25 this year;
2.Commercialisation of the event has led to a massive reduction in participation;
3.only children under ten were admitted free providing they were accompanied by a full paying adult;
4.there were limited facilities for children;
5.That access for disabled people was patchy at best, and appalling at worst;
6.That Pride no longer seems to notice that people over a certain age attend this festival. They do!;
7.no readmission was permitted;
8.refreshments were extremely expensive;
9.it rained again!
Conference notes the current Pride Not Profit campaign being run by the National Union of Students (NUS) which calls for this annual pride event to be free like others to make it as inclusive.
Conference therefore encourages Lesbian and Gay members to do the following:
A.write to the Mayor of London welcoming his support for a free event;
B.write to the organisers over the costs and also lack of facilities for children;
C.write to the NUS supporting their campaign;
D.to write to their MPs to seek a free annual event which is more inclusive for all our members.