LGBT equality in the Commonwealth

Conference notes that the 53 Commonwealth states comprise a quarter of United Nations member states and a third of humanity. The Commonwealth defines itself as a free and equal association of nations committed to the core principles of democracy, human rights, equality, non-discrimination, opportunity for all, liberty of the individual and human dignity. Yet 40 […]

Transphobia – Is this the last acceptable form of discrimination on television?

Over the last 50 years society has made significant progress in adjusting its views on what is deemed to be acceptable when discussing and portraying people from a wide range of minority groups. Racism, anti Semitism, religious hatred, disability discrimination, homophobia etc are now commonly viewed as unacceptable. In addition to laws enforcing these issues […]

Trans equality is everyone’s business

Conference recognises there is still a long way to go to realise equality for all trans people in the United Kingdom (UK), as demonstrated in the Women and Equality Select Committee’s trans equality inquiry report published in January 2016. This report made a number of recommendations following a public consultation with trans communities highlighting the […]

LGBT Scrutiny in the Commissioning Process

Up and down the country health and social care service provision is once again metamorphosing. As features in the provider landscape rise and fall, there are winners and losers. The winners, whether from the statutory, private or community sectors, spread into new geographic territories, full of enthusiasm but frequently ignorant of the shape of local […]

ILGA – European Solidarity

Conference notes 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 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group also has a strong tradition and practice of undertaking international work and regularly engages with and plays an important role […]

Commitment to Pride

UNISON works tirelessly to combat homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and to build equality for us all. Conference believes that one of the best ways of communicating with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community is face to face, most notably through our presence at Pride events across the United Kingdom. Conference notes that UNISON […]

Welcoming UNISON’s new Private Contractors National Forum

This conference welcomes new UNISON Rule D 4 which introduces a new Private Contractors National Forum. Conference recognises that some private sector employers discourage trade union membership, raise barriers to trade union organising, may not recognise our union, and place equality initiatives at a low priority. UNISON members who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and […]

Palestine

1. The adoption by UNISON national delegate conference 2016 of the motion “Don’t silence the occupation of Palestine”, which highlighted the introduction of new laws in Britain, the United States of America and Israel that seek to undermine the growing success of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and instructed the National Executive Council […]

An inclusive movement, an inclusive union

UNISON strives to represent all its members and has led the way in lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members’ self-organisation, not only including LGBT members but putting us at the heart of leading our union. Conference reiterates its belief that a growing number of people identify with sexual orientations or gender identities outside of […]

LGBT Financial Capability

Conference will note that there has long been a myth about the “pink pound”, which imagines lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people as living wildly hedonistic lifestyles and consuming luxury goods and services out of the reach of the rest of society. The reality is that LGBT people are far more likely to live […]

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 […]