HOMOPHOBIA – TAKING NO PRIDE IN PREJUDICE

Conference notes the publication of “Homophobia – Taking No Pride in Prejudice” by Glasgow City Council as part of its commitment to address all forms of prejudice and discrimination in Glasgow. Conference congratulates Glasgow City Council for this excellent piece of research which raises awareness of homophobia and its effects on the lives of Lesbians […]

PROMOTING THE EMPLOYMENT EQUALITY (SEXUAL ORIENTATION) REGULATIONS) 2003

Conference applauds efforts already made by individual members, branch and regional groups, branches and the National LGBT Committee to promote the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 [‘The Regulations’]. Conference is concerned, however, that a large number of members, stewards and branch officers are still unaware of the provisions of ‘The Regulations’. Further, in order […]

WHO BENEFITS? IMPLICATIONS OF THE CIVIL PARTNERSHIP ACT 2004

Conference welcomes the introduction of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 [CPA] which recognises our partnerships and families. However, conference notes that same-sex co-habiting couples who choose not to register their partnerships will have obligations in respect of claiming welfare benefits. Conference notes that disabled and black LGBT members are more likely to be low paid […]

HIV/AIDS

Conference notes that in the UK, people living with HIV/AIDS face discrimination and harassment at work and within wider society. HIV/ AIDS has always been a workplace – and a trade union – issue. From December 2005, workers living with HIV will be covered by the anti-discrimination provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act from the […]

SUPPORTING LGBT ASYLUM SEEKERS

This Conference believes: 1.To be LGBT remains illegal in many countries across the world, with LGBT people facing life prison sentences, beatings, rape, torture and even death; 2.Even in countries where the state does not officially sanction severe repression of LGBT people, homophobia and transphobia can be brutally rife; 3.The UK Asylum system should provide […]

HOMOPHOBIA IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR

Conference notes with concern growing levels of homophobia – particularly against young people – and the refusal of most schools and other education facilities to acknowledge that discrimination and inequality is an issue. Figures indicate that 72% of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual adults reported a regular history of absenteeism at school due to homophobic harassment. […]

LGBT CAMPAIGN GUIDE

This Conference notes the recent successful campaigns around LGBT issues, notably the campaign in favour of the LGBT rule change and our successes over Civil Partnerships and Pension rights and believes we can apply the lessons from these successful campaigns to campaign more successfully in the future. Conference believes that we still confront many challenges […]

AMENDMENT TO STANDING ORDER 7.1

In Standing Order 7.1: After ‘delegates to Conference’: Replace the comma with a full stop; and, Delete ‘or who are members’ and substitute ‘Members’; and, After ‘Lesbian’: Put a comma; and, Delete ‘and Gay Committee. Members’ and substitute ‘Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Committee and’.

WORKFORCE MONITORING

Conference notes with extreme concern the increasing push from employers to undertake workforce monitoring in relation to sexual orientation. This monitoring by some employers is ‘outing’ staff as this is not an anonymous process. It would appear the reason behind this is to obtain figures on how many LGBT employees they have; we would seriously […]

ACCESS TO IN VITRO FERTILISATION (IVF)

Conference notes that the Government is reviewing the provisions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act [HFEA] and that the general public has been invited to respond to a consultation which ends on the 25th November 2005. Conference notes that our families are being recognised under the auspices of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 [CPA] […]

WORKING TO STOP HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES WORLDWIDE

Conference condemns the actions of countries all over the world, including in Iran, where 2 gay men were recently hanged for being gay, and in Saudi Arabia where, in March 2005, 35 men were publicly flogged for attending a ‘gay wedding’, as well as the Ugandan government for criminalizing gay marriage, and Colombia, where “individuals […]

THE WORKERS UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED

Conference welcomes the growth in awareness of the international dimension in LGBT trade union work. In particular we note: 1.An increase in regional group affiliations to the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) and active participation by regional groups in ILGA’s work; 2.The profile of international issues at this year’s TUC LGBT conference, including the […]

CRADLEY HEATH WORKERS’ INSTITUTE

Conference notes that: 1.Early last century the National Federation of Women Workers (NFWW) was at the forefront of a campaign to abolish sweated labour; in 1909 the Trade Board Act fixed wages in some sweated trades, including chain making; 2.The employers at Cradley Heath in the Black Country exploited a loophole in the law; they […]

PRIDE EVENTS

This Conference welcomes the decision of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission to allow Belfast Pride to take place, after local opposition to the event. Conference also notes that several Pride events (in Riga, Latvia, Warsaw, Poland and Jerusalem) have met with local opposition and in the end have taken place either after a Court has […]

ORGANISING AGAINST FASCISM

Conference notes with concern that: 1.In the 2005 general election, the British National Party (BNP) received the highest vote ever received by a far right party in a British general election; 2.The total BNP vote more than quadrupled compared to 2001 and the BNP saved a record 34 deposits; 3.Hostility and prejudice towards asylum seekers […]