- Conference
- 2025 National LGBT+ Conference
- Date
- 26 September 2025
- Decision
- Carried
Conference welcomes the new ace (asexual) and aro (aromantic) network that has been established by the National LGBT+ Committee – called ‘The A-Spec Network’. This is believed to be the first trade union network for those who identify under the Asexuality Umbrella.
Conference also welcomes the factsheet and awareness training that the a-spec network has produced to demystify the complexity of issues that a-spec workers face.
This follows the excellent report by Stonewall in October 2023 – ‘Ace in the UK Report’ produced in conjunction with the Yasmin Benoit Ace Project. This report highlights many worrying aspects for UNISON a-spec members in workplaces. The report finds that ace respondents who do come out at work are less likely than all other sexual orientation groups to receive positive responses from their colleagues. Only 9% of asexual people feel safe to be out at work with colleagues at a similar or lower level than them. More concerning is that a-spec people are being left out of the conversation around the proposed ban on conversion therapy. The report highlights the need for workplaces to have more inclusive policies and better understand the issues faced by a-spec workers.
Since beginning the a-spec campaign, it has become clear that there is very little awareness of understanding of what it means to be asexual or aromantic, and the problems that a-spec workers face in the workplace, such as not being covered under the Equality Act 2010.
Additionally ace phobia is all too often present and visible. This can take the form of microaggressions where members continually refer to groups as ‘LGBT’ instead of ‘LGBT+’, to full on phobic statements that seek to medicalise the a-spec people. Inappropriate curiosity is also prevalent and should not be tolerated anywhere within our union.
Conference, our a-spec members are seeking to be treated with same dignity and respect as any other UNISON member.
Conference calls on the National Executive Committee to:
1)Promote the ace/aro factsheet to regions and branches
2) Encourage all NEC members to take part in the Ace/Aro Awareness training and encourage regional groups to take up the training
3) Call out inappropriate remarks and questions when they arise in all parts of our union.
4) Encourage the NEC International Committee to seek ways to work with ILGA-Europe to promote safe spaces for a-spec identities across Europe and Central Asia.
5) Promote the ace/aro factsheets to sectoral committees and offer a speaker
6) Promote the ace/aro factsheets to each self organised group National Committee, the Young Members National Forum and the Retired Members National Committee and offer a speaker.