- Conference
- Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual & Transgender Conference 2005
- Date
- 17 October 2005
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference notes that gender identity and sexuality are core issues for the individual person. The invalidation by society of LGBT peoples’ core identities can be traumatising. LGBT people can experience layers of discrimination – with a higher incidents rate of anxiety, stress or depressive disorders.
Conference notes that LGBT people experience discrimination as service users of many services. We can be ‘outed’ by accident or by design. We can find that our rights to family life are compromised or denied. Whilst welcoming Civil Partnerships, Conference further notes our exclusion from equal access to marriage, reinforcing our unequal status in society. Conference further recognises recent research findings demonstrating LGBT communities are prone to worse health outcomes in areas such as smoking, Coronary Heart Disease and mental health. Conference believes that this is in large part due to stress caused by high levels of discrimination.
Conference notes the new Healthy Minds at Work programme being developed in Wales under EQUAL will be examining LGBT health in employment and mainstreaming those issues across the wider social inclusion agenda for Wales. Conference requires the National LGBT Committee to examine research findings once established in Wales and how they might be linked into the wider work of the union to positively promote health and wellbeing in work.
Conference notes that we can be also excluded in the supply of goods and services. Our pension rights have been improved but are not of equal status – we should be establishing minimum standards by which we can establish equality in every aspect of our lives – and challenge the prejudice that still exists in goods and services, in health and in employment.
Conference notes that in almost every aspect of our lives LGBT people can be treated differently or dispassionately, as we can equally be treated positively and with dignity and respect.
Conference requires the National LGBT Committee to develop action for change through our Nations and Regions to change things for the better as part of a Charter for Change for LGBT equality.