Language Matters

Conference believes that inclusive language is important in ensuring that all people within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community feel welcome and valued. Conference also believes that language, and our understanding of language, is constantly evolving, and that as LGBT activists we should always be mindful of this. Conference is aware that within […]

Homophobic Teaching in Schools

It has become apparent through press reports on Thursday 19th June that over 30 schools across the UK are using textbooks from the US-based Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum, which teach amongst other abhorrent views: that Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) can be avoided through religion; that homosexuality is a sin and a choice; evolution is […]

LGBT workers’ rights – home and away

Conference recognises that, whilst there is still work to be done in improving rights and conditions for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the United Kingdom, these are still significantly better than those endured by many abroad. Homosexuality is still illegal and punishable in varying degrees in dozens of countries, one of which […]

What we want from a Labour Government

Conference will note the recent report from the National Centre for Social Research, highlighting the austerity measures introduced by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat (ConDem) coalition government. This report showed the cuts have had a disproportionate effect on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Many LGBT workers have found themselves out of work, struggling […]

Challenging sexism in the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender community

Conference notes that because the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community does not exist in a vacuum, sexism looks fairly similar: white men hold power in our community; just as white (straight) men hold the power in the general population. Conference congratulates the National Union of Students (NUS) LGBT conference 2012 for overturning the […]

A caution with consequences?

Conference notes that when someone commits a minor crime, the police or Crown Prosecution Service can decide to give them an out-of-court disposal instead of taking the case to court. The disposal is often called a ‘caution’. Cautions are meant to be used for less serious crimes, for example low level criminal damage. Cautions are […]

HIV Prevention and Early Diagnosis

That this Conference notes that as of June 2013, 131,327 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections have been diagnosed in the UK since the epidemic (pandemic) began in the early 1980s: at least 21,350 are known to have died. The overwhelming majority (>95%) of HIV infections reported over the past 10 years in the UK were […]

For LGBT generations united

This conference believes there has been truly significant progress in achieving equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the workplace and society in the United Kingdom, but agrees there is still more to do reach true equality here, and much more so around the world. This conference believes that the work of […]

Rise of Homophobia Abroad and international LGBT rights

Conference is concerned about the spread of anti-gay legislation in a number of countries and alarmed at the growing cycle of intolerance where the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community are openly targeted and in many cases attacked. The growing evidence easily accessible on social media, for example, in parts of Russia where young […]

Transphobia in the Media

Conference congratulates Conchita Wurst on her Eurovision win and applauds her work in bringing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) issues to an international stage. Conchita Wurst is the drag alter ego of Tom Neuwirth who created the character to “call for tolerance for everything that is different.” It was fantastic to see a […]

KICKING OUT THE TORIES IN 2015 MAKING LGBT VOTES C

Conference notes that on 7 May 2015 a new government will be elected in Westminster. Whatever its political make-up, there will be repercussions for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. As evidenced by the LGBT group’s research on the impact of austerity, four years of Conservative-led government have seen LGBT workers’ pay fall in […]

CEDAW

CEDAW (19 19.1,20) In July 2013 the UK Government was called to give evidence to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This requirement to give evidence happens every three years. Women’s organisations came together to produce a shadow report – that was given in evidence to CEDAW. The […]

LGBT ASYLUM SEEKERS

Conference recalls that in 2010, the United Kingdom (UK) Coalition Government pledged: ‘We will stop the deportation of asylum seekers who have had to leave particular countries because of their sexual orientation’. David Cameron promised that: “Those Africans seeking asylum on the basis of sexual orientation and at real risk of persecution in their home […]

MALE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Male Violence against Women (26 26.1, 30, 31) Conference welcomes the decision by UNISON National Delegate Conference 2013, in passing Motion 8, to encourage women’s activism in our trade union. We recognise that this particular effort is necessary because, in a sexist society, women face particular obstacles to participation in all areas of life, including […]

Community Stewards: Training and Support, Negotia

Community Stewards: Training and Support, Negotiating, Bargaining and Facility Time Conference recognises that trained stewards are vital to the success of building and recruiting strong UNISON membership within the community sector and to ensure that its membership is fully able to represent its members. Also many groups of workers in the Community Service Group are […]