The first plenary session of UNISON’s LGBT+ annual conference in Edinburgh this morning saw a strong emphasis on continuing persecution of LGBT+ people, in the UK and around the world.
Delegates debated a number of motions on trans equality – including the need to combat anti-trans narratives in the media, negotiating trans equality with employers and supporting gender neutral toilets and changing facilities.
Gail from the North West pointed out that trans people – particularly trans women – have been harassed, verbally and physically abused for being perceived to be in the ‘wrong’ toilet. “The right to access for safe toilet spaces” is crucial to inclusivity, she said.
Alex from Eastern region went further, saying they’d been harassed for the same issue – in a gay club.
For the national committee, Sophie praised the trans ally training that has been developed with LAOS, the union’s learning and organising services section.
Feedback has been very positive and it helps to create pressure for policies to support trans and non-binary people in workplaces.
Another delegate in a local council talks of their experience of transitioning, comparing the lack of a problem staff had with clients coming through the system who are trans and non-binary, with the apparent problem they then had with colleagues who are trans and non-binary.
And they pointed out: “Transitioning is not a linear process … you don’t just wake up one morning and think: ‘I’m trans!’”.
Wally from Scotland said that headway had been made in how hate crime is addressed by the police, but it was rising. The Office of National Statistics has, since 2020, reported hate crime on the basis of sexuality to have risen 41%, with a rise of 56% in transphobic hate crime.
“We must stand firm against hate,” he said. “We can’t be complacent … and must act now to renew this union’s fight against hatred in all its forms.”
This was illustrated by Katrina, from West Mercia police branch, who related how one retail worker telling her that he couldn’t call the police every time he was abused.
Yet to government will tell the police to “prioritise a garden shed break in over someone who has been abused horribly online”.
In a further motion, Amanda from the North West introduced the idea of developing a new approach to offensive behaviour that was based, rather than on misconduct charges, education before situations escalate.
“I’d much rather learn from my mistake, apologise and move on,’ she said, adding that it makes speaking up against prejudice far fairer.
In a series of international motions, delegates condemned the government’s Rwanda deportation scheme, and also raised the particular issues facing LGBT+ people as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Anu Prashar called on delegates to “imagine if we’re having this conference in Ghana.”
Anti-LGBT+ laws originating from the period of British colonialism have a created a hostile situation for LGBT+ people, but the situation is worsening, with MPs putting forward even more regressive legislation – with support fromright-wing groups in the US and Europe.
“Christina McAnea could get up to five years just for being an LGBT+ ally” under the plans, she said.
At the end of the session, delegates joined with Ms McAnea and the union’s president, Andrea Egan, to make a show of support for trans people.