- Conference
- 2024 National Disabled Members' Conference
- Date
- 5 July 2024
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference notes that Disabled LGBT+ people face a double burden: discrimination based on both their sexual orientation/gender identity and their disability.
This marginalisation within the LGBT+ community happens in a few ways:
a) Invisibility: The LGBT+ community often has experiences that are seen as more “typical,” which can exclude disabled people. Events might not be physically accessible, or the focus might be on aspects of LGBT+ life that don’t consider disability. This can vary depending on the disability and how the individual copes with it.
b) Ableism: Preconceptions about disability can lead to assumptions that disabled people aren’t sexual or don’t experience same-sex attraction. This can be particularly harmful for transgender and gender non-conforming disabled people. The disability rights movement might prioritise issues like physical accessibility, while the LGBT+ rights movement might focus on marriage equality. This can leave the specific needs of disabled LGBT+ people unaddressed.
c) Lack of representation: Disabled LGBT+ voices are often missing from leadership positions and discussions within the LGBT+ community. This means their specific needs and experiences aren’t being addressed.
d) Isolation and loneliness: Feeling unwelcome or misunderstood in both the LGBT+ and disability communities can lead to social isolation.
e) Mental health: The double marginalisation can contribute to anxiety and depression.
f) Difficulty accessing resources: Support services might not be equipped to handle the specific challenges faced by disabled LGBT+ people.
These issues can happen inside or outside our union.
Stonewall has many resources on this topic on their web site www.stonewall.org.uk
1) Conference we ask the National Disabled Members Committee to work with: UNISON’s National LGBT+ committee to raise awareness of disability within LGBT+ communities
2) UNISON’s national LGBT+ committee and other self-organised groups to provide guidance for the wider union on the issues faced by intersectionality
3) Other self-organised groups, young members forum and retired members to consider training allies to recognise the issues faced by members who intersect between the difference self-organised groups.