- Conference
- 2025 National LGBT+ Conference
- Date
- 1 August 2025
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference notes:
1)That transgender and gender diverse young people across the United Kingdom face disproportionate levels of discrimination, poor mental health, and barriers to accessing education and healthcare.
2)That in Northern Ireland these challenges are intensified by systemic neglect from the Northern Ireland Executive and a lack of political will to protect and support transgender and gender diverse youth.
3)That gender identity healthcare services for young people in Northern Ireland are virtually non-existent, with young people often referred to long waiting lists in England or left with no care at all.
4)That transphobic rhetoric in media and political discourse is increasing, while Northern Ireland Executive Ministers have failed to counter misinformation or affirm the rights of transgender and gender diverse people, especially transgender youth.
Conference further notes:
a)That Mermaids, The Rainbow Project, Reclaim the Agenda, and TransgenderNI have all publicly raised the alarm about the severe lack of gender-affirming services and support for transgender youth in Northern Ireland.
b)That the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and United Nations Special Rapporteurs have raised concerns about the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executives failures to protect transgender people under international human rights law.
c)That in schools, Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) remains outdated and non-inclusive, offering no protection or validation for transgender and gender diverse students.
Conference believes:
i)That transgender and gender diverse youth in Northern Ireland are being abandoned by both government policy and public services, putting them at serious risk of mental health crisis and social isolation.
ii)That UNISON must stand unequivocally in support of transgender and gender diverse young people and challenge political neglect and institutional inaction.
iii)That public services, especially in education, youth work, and healthcare, must be funded, trained, and empowered to support transgender inclusion and wellbeing.
Conference instructs the National LGBT+ Committee to work with the Northern Ireland Region, NEC and other relevant UNISON structures;
A)Call on the Stormont Executive and Department of Health to urgently fund and deliver local, publicly accessible gender identity services for young people in Northern Ireland.
B)Demand that the Department of Education implements mandatory, inclusive, evidence-based, age-appropriate RSE that reflects the realities of transgender and gender diverse young people’s lives.
C)Develop UNISON branch guidance for supporting transgender young people in schools, youth services, and healthcare settings, including training, resources, and safeguarding standards.
D)Hold Government accountable for its failure to provide basic protections to transgender and gender diverse youth under both domestic equality legislation and international human rights frameworks.