- Conference
- 2012 National LGBT Conference
- Date
- 25 July 2012
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that current proposals to reform the House of Lords include retaining automatic seats for twelve Church of England Bishops.
Conference finds such a proposal a ludicrous affront to equality since it amounts to reserving seats in parliament for heterosexual men and celibate gay and bisexual men.
Conference also notes the negative role the Church of England bishops have played on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality including , for example:
1) Their 2-1 vote to oppose an equal age of consent, the Labour government’s key early measure towards lg&b equality;
2) At the end of Labour’s term, their support to amend the Equality Bill to retain their own privileged position in relation to discrimination in employment; and,
3) Their formal objection to the present government proposals for gay marriage in England and Wales.
Conference accepts that House of Lords reform is complex but it believes that equality considerations belong at the forefront of UNISON’s contribution to the debate.
Conference therefore instructs the National LGBT Committee to raise this with the National Executive Council.
It urges Branch and Regional LGBT Groups and individual members to seek opportunities to join the campaign to remove bishops from parliament.