Conference notes that the trans community has seen an escalation in the volume and the toxicity of anti-trans articles across all media platforms in recent years, to a level now that is almost beyond comprehension. While the initial increase was commonly attributed to the United Kingdom (UK) wide rise in negative sentiment shown to all […]
Conference motions
Conference acknowledges that one of UNISON’s strengths lies in its recognition of the value and unique experiences LGBT+ people bring to the workplace and to our union and commends the work of UNISON’s LGBT+ committee to raise the profile of its LGBT+ membership across the United Kingdom (UK). Despite the work that has been done […]
Conference recognises that we support many organisations to develop comprehensive anti-discrimination policies, learning programmes etc. Yet even here, evidence confirms that more is needed, to properly address the unacceptable discrimination, violence, bullying, harassment, suicide and mental health challenges many LGBT+ people experience. Conference knows LGBT+ is an area with conflicting approaches and opinions – and […]
Conference recognises the need for inclusiveness for our LGBT+ members in the workplace. We commend the strong position taken by members at national delegate conference in passing the motion ‘Trans Equality – Louder and Prouder’ and recognise the commitment in UNISON’s recently updated Trans Equality Model Policy to the provision of gender neutral toilets. Many […]
LGBT+ people have been and are still experiencing verbal and physical bullying from colleagues, customers or service users because of their sexual orientation / identity and some still do not feel confident about reporting homo/bi and transphobic bullying in their workplace. According to Stonewall more than a third of LGBT staff (35 per cent) have […]
Conference is concerned at the decreasing level of bisexual+ (bi+) engagement within UNISON structures at branch, regional and national level. At this year’s bi+ network meeting, attendance was significantly lower than previous years, especially from members with multiple identities. It is crucial that we not only understand this decline in bi+ activism and engagement, but […]
This Conference is deeply concerned by the steep rise in LGBT+ hate crime in Scotland since lockdown restrictions were eased at the beginning of last summer. The rise in homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crimes is not restricted to Scotland but has been replicated across the rest of the United Kingdom (UK). Hatred and abuse […]
Following the 2021 LGBT+ conference, the national LGBT+ committee launched a trans equality campaign to be louder and prouder about our support for trans and non-binary members’ rights. This campaign has many elements – from trans ally training and establishing a trans ally network to lobby the United Kingdom’s governments and the Labour Party to […]
Conference notes with regret that although the United Kingdom (UK) Government has proposed a ban on conversion therapy for sexual orientation, it remains in place for gender identity and/or gender expression in adults ‘if they’ve consented and haven’t been coerced.’ Conversion therapy is a pseudoscientific practice which attempts to repress or change the sexual orientation […]
LGBT+ people in the context of the war in Ukraine, like everyone, have many reasons to stay in Ukraine or to leave the country. Like their fellow citizens, LGBT+ people are staying, supporting each other, providing mutual aid, and fighting against the Russian invasion. LGBT+ people, however, face additional barriers to fleeing the country, including […]
Conference notes it has been 3 years since UNISON’s lesbian, gay, bisexual (Bi) and transgender (trans) (LGBT) self-organised group achieved a rule change to include the “+” to become the LGBT+ self-organised group. The purpose of the rule change was to ensure we are inclusive of all identities from within our community and to reflect […]
Conference is appalled by the trans exclusionary radical feminist protestors from Lancaster Resisters who decided to march at the front of the Manchester Pride parade in August this year. Reports suggest that they covered about half of the parade route before exiting the parade after engagement by Police and Pride Officials. Following the event, a […]
Conference is aware that UNISON and the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Plus (LGBT+) Committee and Self Organised Group have consistently expressed concerns about the Government’s policies on Brexit. For disabled LGBT+ members, the prospect of a no deal exit from the European Union (EU), and the impacts as outlined in the “Yellowhammer” report, […]
Conference welcomes the introduction of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Plus (LGBT+) inclusive relationship education in primary schools and relationship and sex education (RSE) in secondary schools, which forms part of the Department for Education’s statutory guidance. Conference notes these guidelines cover disabled pupils in mainstream schools, Additionally Resourced Provision (ARPs) and extend to special […]
Conference notes that UNISON’s policy on sex work, adopted in 2010 on the basis of a motion from women’s conference, is to support proposals which decriminalise the selling of sexual services while introducing a ‘sex buyers law’ criminalising those who purchase those services. Conference recognises that the great majority of sex workers are women. Conference […]