Isle of Man

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people on the Isle of Man are not protected from unfair treatment and discrimination in the workplace and in access to public and private service. There are no legal protections for LGBT people in the form of anti-discrimination laws relating to specifically to sexual orientation or gender and there […]

#AskMyPronouns

Equality law in the United Kingdom (UK) has continued to update itself as time has passed in view of better knowledge and understanding of the challenges facing people, including those of transgender individuals. Although these laws ensure protection for transgender people the particulars of language are always changing. People working in the public service and […]

End of Life Care for LGBT People

Research by the Marie Curie Charity “Hiding who I am – the reality of end of life care for LGBT People” shows that many older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people have significant fears about palliative and end of life care services. They are concerned that service providers and health and social care professionals […]

TIME FOR INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

Conference notes that the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) Campaign is committed to improving access to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex plus (LGBTI+) inclusive education in all Scottish schools. Inclusive education can help tackle homo/bi/transphobia, create a more safe learning environment for all pupils, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and can also […]

Expunge LGBT convictions prior to decriminalization

Conference notes that until 1980, sex between men was illegal in Scotland and whilst sexual acts between women have never been specifically outlawed in the United Kingdom (UK), some prosecutions for indecency were made in the past. Conference further notes that the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 decriminalised homosexual acts between men over 21 in […]

Discrimination in the LGBT community

This Conference welcomes the work that has been done to ensure that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) group is a positive, welcoming and inclusive group, to the extent that it can be seen as a good practice model for other LGBT organisations to learn from. This is not least because too many LGBT […]

Homelessness in the LGBT+ Community

Conference notes the report from Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT) (2015), which highlights the growing plight of young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, who find themselves homeless. The report found that LGBT young people are at a significantly higher risk of exposure to a range of experiences that are associated with becoming homeless – […]

Transitioning to Best Practise

Conference notes the added pressures placed on people transitioning at work. Thanks to the rising amount of positive representation of trans people in the media, public acceptance of Trans issues are increasing. However the workplace can still be a ‘wild west’ for people transitioning at work, some progressive workplaces have a Trans policy and support […]

WITNESSES TO THE HOLOCAUST

Conference will recall the horrific events of the Holocaust and the millions of lives that perished as the Nazis pursued mass genocide. This included people with disability that were put to death because of their disability. Their story should never be forgotten. The Holocaust began as early as July 1933, when the Nazis passed a […]

REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS AND SICKNESS ABSENCE POLICIES

Conference is concerned that the failure of some employers to make reasonable adjustments to sickness absences procedures is preventing an increasing number of Disabled Members from being able to access essential medical treatment. The usual process of informal and formal sickness hearings often culminating in a formal warning that includes the threat of dismissal is […]

ACCESS TO WORK

The Access to Work (AtW) programme is designed to provide disabled people with practical support to stay in employment. However, there have been significant problems with the scheme’s operation. Conference notes that the Work and Pensions Select Committee has concluded that the scheme helps “only a minority of the people it could benefit” and that […]

HOMEWORKING

Conference notes the increased drive, in both the public and private sectors, to close workplaces and centralise operations. Frequently this leads to increasingly length, both in time and distance, and difficult commutes to work. This impacts disproportionately negatively on disabled workers. At the same time, continuing and rapid advances in information and communications technology have […]

EQUALITY ACT AND DISABLED PEOPLE

Conference following a suggestion by Baroness Thomas of Winchester, herself disabled, the House of Lords appointed a post-legislative scrutiny committee to look at the impact of the Equality Act 2010 on disabled people. The Committee’s remit was to consider: • Why change was needed; • If the Act has been successful; • If the Government […]

FORCED ACADEMISATION AND DISABLED PEOPLE

Conference is concerned that although the government has officially “revised its intentions” to force all schools to become academies this is still their intention. The government says “all schools will be made to convert where the local authority can no longer viably support them where a critical mass of academy schools exists.” Underperforming schools and […]

IMPACT OF MENOPAUSE ON DISABLED WOMEN

Conference the menopause affects women in many different ways; and just like periods, it is something rarely discussed. We know that the menopause effects different ages and last for different periods of time. The symptoms can be very different from one woman to the next. There are at least 34 recognised different symptoms for example: […]