Disability History Month

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Conference
2011 National LGBT Conference
Date
23 September 2011
Decision
Carried

Conference acknowledges the importance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) and Black History Month in raising awareness, providing education, challenging discrimination and promoting positive role models. Conference is proud that the LGBT self organised group supports both events.

Conference notes that UK Disability History Month (UKDHM) was launched in 2010 to run annually from 22 November to 22 December which covers World AIDS Day (1st December), International Day of People with Disabilities (3rd December) and International Human Rights Day (8th December).

UKDHM states that the intention is to involve disabled people, disabled people’s organisations, and trade unions amongst others in the organising of events, exhibitions and publicity.

The UKDHM website states Disabled people don’t just identify as disabled, but also as women or men, girls or boys, straight and gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, black or ethnic minorities, refugees and asylum seekers or religious minorities. Throughout the Disability History Month it will be important to recognise that disabled people have multiple identities being members of other groups subjected to discriminatory practice and to ensure that the diverse nature of disabled people is recognised in terms of the range and type of impairment that are included e.g. mental, neuro-diverse, learning difficulty, physical, invisible and sensory impairments. UKDHM will endeavor to make both materials and events accessible.

UKDHM is currently supported by National Association of School Masters and Women Teachers (NASAWT), National Union of Teachers (NUT), Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Trades Union Congress (TUC), Communication Workers Union (CWU), Unite, University and College Union (UCU), a number of disabled people’s organisations as well as LGBT History Month and Schools Out.

Disabled LGBT people face multiple discrimination, bullying and hate crime and may not have access to resources, role models or positive imagery of disabled LGBT people and UKDHM has the potential to change this.

Conference therefore calls on the National LGBT Committee to consult with the National Disabled Members Committee as to the appropriateness of UNISON becoming affiliated to UKDHM.

Conference also urges the National LGBT Committee, regional and branch LGBT groups to consider holding or joining in with existing UKDHM events and to positively promote resources and images that include disabled LGBT people during UKDHM, LGBT history month and Black disabled LGBT people during Black History Month.