- Conference
- 2024 National LGBT+ Conference
- Date
- 17 July 2024
- Decision
- Carried
Conference celebrates our union’s rich history of international work and the increased importance of having a global perspective in many areas of our work. Conference recognises that UNISON’s LGBT+ group also has a strong tradition and practice of undertaking international work and regularly engages with and plays an important role within ILGA World (International lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex association) and ILGA-Europe (IE). IE is a non-governmental umbrella organisation bringing together 700 organisations from 54 countries across Europe and Central Asia.
As well as the national LGBT+ committee, all regions of UNISON are affiliated to ILGA.
UNISON continues to raise LGBT+ issues in the different forums that we work, and that trade unionism is raised in all LGBT+ forums in which we engage. Our strength and understanding of good governance protocols allows our involvement on both the global stage via ILGA World, and on the European and Central Asian stage. Because of this, UNISON plays an important role in LGBT+ democracy. In addition, UNISON has been instrumental in increasing recognition by global and European trade unions of LGBT+ workplace discrimination and different ways to address it.
While there have been great strides in advancing LGBT+ equality over the last 30 years, in many countries LGBT+ voices are still silenced, and we need to keep pushing for greater protection for LGBT+ individuals – both within workplaces and wider civil society. Some countries have taken steps forward in terms of equality and greater recognition of the human rights of LGBT+ people. Others, like the United Kingdom (UK), have taken vast steps backward. We are horrified about continued attacks on LGBT+ people and despair that protections for LGBT+ people have so easily been eroded.
A significant piece of work that IE undertakes each year is the Rainbow Map and Annual Review of the equality situation for LGBT+ people in Europe and Central Asia. Conference notes that the UK has dropped from 1st place in the review (2013, 2014, 2015) to 15th place in 2024. The annual review scores in categories against different criterion, including on employment protections and workplace issues.
IE’s focus is on empowering and training activists who work to advance the rights of LGBTI (I=Intersex) people in European and Central Asian countries. Their mission to facilitate a strong movement that can adapt and respond effectively to changing environments is key to making the change we seek a reality.
Conference calls on the national LGBT+ committee to:
1)Continue to promote an internationalist perspective amongst LGBT+ members;
2)Encourage LGBT+ members to support IE and ILGA World by using their resources, which are freely available from their website, to create change.
3)Consider facilitating a nationwide International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) event using IE’s rainbow map in 2025 to highlight the UK’s woeful slide down the index.