1 Winter 2016/17 Issue 60

LGBT members – getting involved We’ve all suffered from survey fatigue at some point. This year we’ve done more than our share of contributing to that fatigue. So a big thank you to all of you who responded to the UNISON equality survey and the survey we commissioned NatCen to carry out on LGBT people and public spending cuts.

What you said gives us vital Only a few more members reported . Levels of reporting evidence to inform our campaigning this discrimination than the number and non-reporting were similar over the coming months. You are who kept it to themselves. The to the wider group, as were our reality check and our credibility. reasons for not reporting were the reasons for non-reporting. concern about being picked on or Experiences of work-related mental The NatCen survey is still being the issue not being taken seriously. health issues and time off work analysed but initial findings confirm A third of members had experienced for stress were similar for trans that while specialist LGBT services a mental health issue triggered by members and all LGBT members. are disappearing, mainstream work and a fifth had taken time off services, under cuts-related pressure because of work related stress. There were also some positive themselves, are unable to meet the experiences reported. More than need. The report will be available at For the LGBT slice of responses, a quarter of members said they LGBT conference and feature in the the proportion experiencing or more likely to get involved with Spring Out in UNISON. witnessing discrimination rose to UNISON than a year ago. The just under a third. Nearly half had figure for LGBT members was 40% UNISON’s equality survey was the experienced a mental health issue and for trans members only, a very first of what will be an annual check triggered by work and 29% had to impressive 50%. on equality in the workplace and in take time off for work-related stress. our organising work. A quarter of These findings are a challenge the 4500 members responding had For the trans only slice, a and inspiration for us. Clearly we witnessed or experienced unfair shocking two thirds of members have much still to do and plenty of discrimination in their workplace. had experienced or witnessed activists willing to do it.

UNISON LGBT MEMBERS EQUALITY UNISON LGBT MEMBERS 2 EQUALITY Getting organised

There’s no one set path to LGBT branch or regional organising. Some golden rules, certainly, like making sure we reach and include everyone we should. That our objectives are firmly rooted in UNISON’s objectives. Beyond that, it’s a matter of seeing what works. We all benefit from hearing how others have gone about it. Brilliant ideas are for sharing – send us yours!

The branch LGBT members expressed their regularly updated LGBT posters. wish to join. In May 2016 SEPA We are exploring different options Fiona Gentle UNISON’s LGBT SOG was officially in order to reach smaller offices. Scottish Environment launched, with a special guest Protection Agency speaker from UNISON Scotland’s The group’s next priority is to use a LGBT regional committee. LGBT UNISON member survey to I was elected branch LGBT officer promote SOG membership, gauge in 2015. This was new territory for The group remit is to organise members’ opinions and identify the branch as this officer position locally to support each other, to issues or discrimination faced by had never been filled before and identify discrimination, to increase members. Talks have begun with new territory for me as I was new awareness of LGBT rights and SEPA’s Equalities Officer about a to UNISON activism. I began to to campaign for change. Due second joint survey. This will allow communicate across SEPA offices on to the local support the group UNISON to reach potential members LGBT issues via posters and leaflets. offers, branch representation at and highlight the work currently being UNISON Scotland LGBT AGM done. The group has also pledged I attended the UNISON LGBT increased 3 fold in 2016 and its support for Time for Inclusive branch officer training in February for first time the branch will be Education, tiecampaign.org.uk, and 2016. After this, we prioritised represented at UNISON national are beginning to get involved in this setting up the branch LGBT LGBT conference. The branch also campaign. It’s been a busy year so SOG. We sent a blanket email to now has UNISON communication far for SEPA UNISON LGBT SOG. members to gauge interest. Four boards in major offices with Here is hoping it continues! UNISON LGBT MEMBERS UNISON GIVING LGBT MEMBERS A VOICE 3 EQUALITY

to engage, which has been an important focus for us this year.

Early in 2016 we identified events where we could communicate about UNISON/the self-organised group (SOG). Attending these events, such as the launch of ’s trans resources and meetings of the local LGBT Hub, proved to be a successful strategy. We committed to sponsoring and marching in the largest pride event in our region, . The day was a great success; new members joined us The cluster of branches Oxford City, Oxford County, and on the march and we spoke to Oxfordshire Health, and we are hundreds of existing and potential Ceri Lloyd hoping to reach other branches. If members from the stall in the Oxford University and you are an LGBT UNISON member heart of the Leeds LGBT scene. Colleges branch from Oxfordshire and are interesting SOG members and branches have in being involved in the group, also attended pride events in Hull, Self-organisation is an integral and please get in touch with Ceri Lloyd Doncaster and Sheffield. important part of the work UNISON – [email protected] – does, giving a voice to those who we’d love to hear from you. We developed a facebook page at don’t conform to the traditional the beginning of the year stereotype of a trade unionist: a facebook.com/unisonYHLGBT which white, heterosexual, able-bodied The regional group now has c.100 followers, engaging man. Ideally, branches would have with the page and communicating their own self-organised groups for Mike Austin with other members. We have used their women, disabled, Black, and Yorkshire and Humberside this to communicate from the region, LGBT members. Unfortunately, this from the national committee and isn’t always possible. 2016 has been an exciting year to communicate information from for the Yorkshire and Humberside resolutions at last year’s conference. With this in mind, several branches LGBT group. There has been a in Oxfordshire have combined rapid increase in attendance and The SOG meets formally 4 - 5 times to create a county-wide LGBT a noticeable passion for building a year. With the increase in new SOG. Cross-branch and cross- regional activity. members we’re now planning some service groups, it’s an opportunity informal social events and training to meet up to discuss issues we Regional self-organised groups opportunities with the hope of have in common within our various should be at the heart of increasing membership even further. workplaces, to consider and plan encouraging and supporting possible campaigns we’d like to activity in our branches. But We are at a point where we can be involved in, and to generally without engaged members we begin to deliver much more but socialise. The group aims to meet can achieve very little so we we need you! There has been every month, often in a local pub, identified the changes required to some really impressive activity in or going out for dinner, as well as inspire our activists. the branches in our region, with attending LGBT events such as Doncaster Local Government and regional Prides. Our AGM in November 2015 Humberside Police Staff branches welcomed a small increase in receiving a special mention. Now UNISON has a highly visible members, filled some committee we’d like you to bring your talent to presence at Oxford Pride (with a places and set the group on the path the regional group too. banner and stall!), and it will be to increasing its activity. New ideas good to promote the group at and improved communication led u If you’d like to get further next year’s event. The group has to an increase in outreach, resulting involved in our work, please like been attended by members from in more new members joining the our facebook page or contact Oxford University and Colleges, group and more opportunities [email protected] UNISON LGBT BS 4 ULIT NHS EDC LGBT task and finish group Strings of initials. Can’t do without them – struggle to cope with them. We all know and love the NHS. We are the LGBT. But the NHS EDC LGBT?

The EDC is the Equality and Diversity Council of NHS England which aims ‘to tackle health inequalities and promote equality Uncelebrated? for all, bringing to life the values of the NHS Constitution’. It’s chaired by the Chief Executive of NHS Not now! England and has member from across the NHS, social care, partner Regular readers of Out in UNISON will remember Davis organisations, patient and carer Mac-Iyalla’s interview in which he talked about how he groups and staff unions. became a union activist. At the time, he was working as a senior healthcare assistance in the private sector, One of its working groups is where the employers didn’t recognise the union. the LGBT task and finish group. UNISON represents the staff side, in Davis was already well known to some as an LGBT the person of national LGBT officer rights activist in Nigeria and the UK. Rumours started Carola Towle. spreading at work and colleagues began to treat him differently. It was clear to Davis he needed to be in the The focus is workforce equality. union and he soon became LGBT officer of his Surrey The LGBT group is building a PCT branch. central source of advice and ideas for LGBT staff inclusion. It’s Now working for Viridian Housing and in Ealing branch, also looking to develop a LGBT Davis recently received recognition for his activism. workforce standard for health and He told Out in UNISON: “On Saturday 24 September, social care; make sure LGBT the Nigerian community in the UK organised an award issues are integrated into national dinner ceremony to honour 56 uncelebrated Nigerians. training; address bullying and I feel proud to receive an award for my Contribution to harassment of LGBT staff and Inclusion and Community Services.” improve LGBT monitoring.

Davis is also recognised within UNISON. At our Updates will follow in future issues national Black LGBT members meeting in September, of Out in UNISON but we need he was elected to one of the Black LGBT places on your help now! Please send us your the national LGBT committee, a position he takes up examples for the advice and good following LGBT conference. practice database to [email protected]. UNISON LGBT BS UNISON GIVING LGBT MEMBERS A VOICE 5 ULIT Southampton gets its Pride back!

David Wright Southampton Solent University branch

Sunday 28 August saw Pride finally return to Southampton after a break of 20 years. And what a proud day it turned out to be for the city! Organised in an astonishingly short space of time, the event showed SAVE what can be achieved when communities and local organisations pull together. Stallholders and a volunteer crew of around 70 people faced early morning challenges of trying to set up gazebos in a *very* strong CARE breeze. The inevitable bank holiday rain showers followed soon after! However, there was already a small crowd gathering when the Mayor of Southampton opened the event at 11am with a minute’s silence in memory NOW of those murdered in the attack on the Orlando Pulse nightclub. Over 500,000 adults in the UK Generous financial support came from UNISON and from Unite and the rely on homecare workers to get GMB and all three unions were present on the day. Community groups them out of bed, wash them, brush were also well represented. their teeth, help them take their medication and much more. We Music and entertainment followed and the crowd grew. By the time of may well join those 500,000 at the parade itself at 3pm, the weather was dry and warm and a throng some point. of people set off through the city for a lively and colourful parade. The atmosphere was joyful and welcoming and the diversity of the crowd was UNISON’s homecare workers are plain for everyone to see. In troubled times, it gave you hope to see so deeply committed but they are many young people and families. also deeply concerned about the state of the care sector in the Cheered and tooted on by shoppers, business owners, pedestrians and UK. UNISON’s Save Care Now! drivers along the way, the parade wound through the city centre and back campaign raises the voices of to the Pride site. There, the party atmosphere continued throughout the late homecare workers, challenging afternoon and evening. There was something for everyone to enjoy. councils to stop allowing care providers to cut corners. Huge credit goes to the small team of organisers. We hope you’ll join us on 26 August 2017 for an even bigger and better Southampton Pride. We are also highlighting the LGBT voice. A report published this summer shows how important it is to LGBT people that social care acknowledges and meets their particular needs. The report Out Bourne Free Loud – LGBT voices in health and social care assists in designing Members from Dorset branches had a stall at the Bourn Free event this and providing care, focusing summer. They met lots of UNISON members and talked to young people on what matters most to LGBT about workers rights and how trade unions work to protect them. They service users. recruited new members from across the South West and beyond! UNISON’s save care now campaign They asked people to write down what LGBT equality means to them, then is at savecarenow.org.uk tweeted a photo of them holding it. Over 50 responses included ‘freedom’, ‘building a better world’ and ‘making the UK proud’. We raised lots of The Out Loud report is at money for ILGA from UNISON rainbow wristbands and lanyards. We can nationallgbtpartnership.org/ proudly say we were the loudest and most successful stall there! publications/out-loud UNISON LGBT BS 6 ULIT

Forum for private sector members

Following the rule change at National from each of our company level national forums. For Delegate Conference this summer, example, our Capita Forum nominates a few reps to sit we have now established the new on the National Forum. We also have a general private contractors forum, for those reps who would like to National Private Contractors Forum. be involved but do not have a forum for their specific This will be a space for members employer. This general forum also nominates to the who work for private companies to National Forum. discuss topics relevant to them and The structures are designed to be flexible in order to meet members facing similar issues. grow and accommodate the different aspects and needs of our private sector membership, including the The first meeting is in November 2016; dates for 2017 need for fair representation. are being finalised. They will be scheduled to allow the forum to put motions and amendments to relevant All of our forums are looking for more reps to be conferences, should they choose to. This fulfils an involved so if you would like to take part, or support important aspect of the rule change: allowing members some of your members to take part, please contact in private contractors to have their voice heard at all your region or email [email protected] levels of UNISON. for more information. Please also contact us if you would like to hear more about the work of the private Seats on the National Forum are allocated to members contractors unit going forward. UNISON LGBT BS UNISON GIVING LGBT MEMBERS A VOICE 7 ULIT Still fighting for pensions equality

Workplace discrimination against same sex couples was banned in 2003. But when it comes to surviving partner pensions, many same sex couples still get a raw deal. Under the current government, the best hope of ending this is scheme by scheme negotiation. State More than one in four defined benefit schemes in the private sector discriminate against same-sex couples. pensions Commenting on this, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “It is disgraceful that some widowers, justice for surviving civil partners and same-sex spouses are losing out on thousands of pounds of retirement income, trans simply because of their gender or .” The cost to schemes to put right the injustice as women negligible in actuarial terms, but for the bereaved partner, it can prevent an old age in poverty. 2015 LGBT conference agreed to campaign for payment of When the Civil Partnership Act was introduced in 2005, state pensions arrears owed to defined benefit pension schemes had to provide the some trans women. The women same survivor benefits to civil partners as they did to affected are those who reached married partners. However, this right to equality only pensionable age before the applied from 2005 onwards. When equal marriage was Gender Recognition Act came introduced, the government decided to treat same-sex into force. At this time, women spouses the same as civil partners, so only service after were eligible for state pension at 2005 counts for them too. 60, five years earlier than men. Because the affected women Human rights group Liberty are supporting John Walker could not apply to have their legal in taking an individual legal case through the courts. gender changed at that point, He has asked the Supreme Court to refer the case to they only received their state the European Court of Justice. He has already been pensions at 65. The Department pursuing this case for years and there is no early of Work and Pensions has resolution expected. subsequently refused to backdate their pensions to their 60 birthday and pay the arrears owed. What you can do As with John Walker’s workplace Check whether your scheme pays the same pensions campaign, the legal benefits to surviving same sex partners as case has had to go beyond the it does to surviving opposite sex partners in UK to the European Court of relation to contributions made before 2005 Justice. Law firm Arnold & Porter is representing four clients on a If contributions before 2005 are not taken into pro bono basis. It is recognised account for same sex surviving partners, raise that the case raises complex this as an equality issue issues relating to the interplay between EU law, human rights If there is resistance, ask for this to be costed and UK social security law. Let – the cost is likely to be tiny. us hope these women win justice before it’s too late. For more information, contact Carola Towle, UNISON LGBT equality officer If you or someone you know is [email protected] affected by this, please contact [email protected]. UNISON LGBT BS 8 ULIT Out in UNISON meets Ruth Baldacchino Ruth Baldacchino, preferred pronoun ‘they’, is co-secretary general of ILGA, the international , , bisexual, and association. This is just one of Ruth’s many roles. Out in UNISON caught up with Ruth as they moved between Cyprus (ILGA-Europe Conference), Malta (home), New York (for the day job) and that other glamorous international destination – Llandudno, for UNISON LGBT conference, where Ruth is our guest speaker.

So, my first step into activism was through disability and the Deaf community as a very young kid. That, coupled with my personal life, motivated me to venture into the world of LGBTIQ activism. What continues to drive my passion is seeing the amazing work carried out by brave LGBTIQ activists all over the world.

ILGA Europe publishes a rainbow index of countries’ LGBTI equality law and policy. The first year, 2010, Malta was more or less at the bottom. In 2016, it’s at the top, bumping the UK into third place. Wow! Tell us what scored so highly.

That was our intention all the way – bumping the UK from first place! Joking apart, for 25 (long) years, Malta What’s your day job? had a Conservative government, meaning almost no legal or policy progress. EU accession in 2004 offered I work for Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice - the us the opportunity to begin to win changes. only philanthropic organisation working exclusively to advance LGBTIQ rights around the globe. We had a small but strong LGBTIQ movement, with Malta Gay Rights Movement formed in 2001. The media We are a multi-gendered, multi-racial and multi-identity became an important ally helping change attitudes. organisation that grew from a lesbian feminist vision. In 2011, the Maltese voted to introduce divorce in a I am the programme officer for the Intersex Human referendum, challenging the church and government. Rights Fund. It supports intersex activists and This marked a significant shift. For many this was their organisations through grant-making and capacity first sense of freedom, especially from the oppressive building. The goal is to ensure that intersex-led hold of the Church. organisations have the resources and capacities needed to realise the human rights of intersex people. In 2013, the Malta Labour Party won the general election with a clear LGBT-inclusive manifesto. Out in UNISON has known you for as long as The Minister for Civil Liberties set up an LGBTIQ we can remember, but you’re still of tender Consultative Council which put forward proposals years. How did you first become an activist? including equal marriage and adding sexual orientation and in our Constitution. Then in April I was (and still am) very much inspired by two aunties, 2015, the Gender Identity, and Sex both teachers / educators, who taught me a lot about Characteristics Act (GIGESC) Act was passed. inclusion, equality, and justice through their work with the Deaf community in Malta. This Act established the rights to gender identity, self- UNISON LGBT BS UNISON GIVING LGBT MEMBERS A VOICE 9 ULIT We are real The growing movement for intersex

determination, bodily integrity and physical autonomy. people’s rights With this law, Malta became the first country in the world to stop unnecessary medical treatments and Intersex is an umbrella term used for surgeries on intersex children. It also became an instant people who are born with variations of sex example of international best practice and the catalyst characteristics, which do not always fit for several other significant initiatives: a wide-ranging society’s perception of male or bodies. education policy for trans, gender variant and intersex Intersex is not the same as gender identity or children and a comprehensive LGBTIQ Action Plan. sexual orientation. People born with intersex This is what put Malta on top of the Rainbow Index. bodies may or may not be LGBT. It’s very important for us as an LGBT group to be clear At the recent ILGA Europe conference there about this and to play our part in dispelling was a focus on ‘intersectionality’. That’s misunderstanding and confusion. However, not a word we use much in UNISON. You LGBT activists and intersex activists share a made an important point about unions and passion for human rights and we can all learn intersectionality in the panel discussion. to be good intersex allies. Can you remind us? Led by intersex members of UNISON, work is now underway on developing a bargaining Intersectionality is a way of addressing different forms factsheet on workers rights for people of oppression and injustices. It describes ways different born with intersex bodies or non-normative oppressions intersect with each other. A young Black sex characteristics. The aim is to promote woman, experiences the world as a young-Black- understanding of the issues, equip reps to woman, not as a young person, a Black person and a support members appropriately and raise woman. The term was coined 1989 by Black feminist awareness of human rights issues, especially Kimberlé Crenshaw. in relation to their treatment within the medical system. My point was that the intersecting factor for all There has been very little research till activist movements is class: class intertwines with now and the movement other aspects of our lives (gender, sexuality, disability, has lacked voice and visibility. But this is race etc) and as a result communities are excluded, changing, as documented in a recent report oppressed and silenced. Class is sometimes replaced by the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for by other terms and phrases in both academic and Justice - We Are Real: The Growing Movement activists spaces. I believe that unless we continue Advancing the Human Rights of Intersex naming class as an oppressive system of power, People. Members at our LGBT conference we won’t be able to address other inequalities and this November will have the chance to hear injustices. As feminist critic bell hooks said in her book about this from Astraea programme manager, Where We Stand, “class matters”. Ruth Baldacchino. You can read the report at astraeafoundation.org/wearereal. There is What’s your message to UNISON activists just also a workshop on intersex equality. starting out now? Early in 2017, there will be a strategy meeting for UNISON members born with The achievements in Malta were a result of years of intersex bodies. Intersex equality allies can work by activists like you. But all the achievements in also apply to attend. This meeting will finalise Malta would not have happened if we hadn’t interacted the intersex workers rights factsheet and with other activists and networks. This is what ILGA discuss next steps in UNISON’s work on and IGLYO (international LGBTQI youth organisation) intersex equality. meant to us. They were our lifeline, and the solidarity expressed was our only hope. I learnt so much along u If you are interested in being involved, the way, and my involvement with ILGA is my way of please email [email protected] giving back. in confidence. UNISON LGBT BS 10 ULIT

Exiting the EU UNISON’S strategy However you voted in the EU referendum, it’s not been a comfortable time since. There are still more questions than answers. Indeed the questions seem to multiply.

There are work streams on employment and trade union rights; public services and professional standards; trade deals, environmental, health and safety standards, regulations and public procurement; and freedom of movement and right to remain, fighting racism, discrimination and promoting equalities and human rights.

Each work stream will:

• Inform members so they But some things are very clear. UNISON’s agreed strategy is to understand how changes will Campaigning around the referendum ensure: affect them, particularly in the gave voice and validation to division workplace and scapegoating. Much of it paid • UNISON, as part of the wider trade • Engage members to understand scant attention to the actual impact union movement, has a voice their experiences and involve of EU membership, focussing on in the exiting EU negotiations, them in campaigns Black communities and faith groups including devolved national • Amplify our members’ voices and on migrant workers from outside issues, so that public service so they are heard in EU and UK the EU. The post-referendum spike workers get a fair settlement. debates and in negotiations in racist and xenophobic • negotiations that impact on • Influence – using our policy and is well-documented. It’s recently funding, jobs, standards, legal expertise and organising come to light from the LGBT+ anti- regulations, equality, human strength for the best possible violence charity Galop that LGBT rights, employment rights and outcome for public services and hate crime also spiked significantly. trade deals guarantee protection the people who provide them. As ever, the levels of unreported of public services. hate crime and the fear of hate • UNISON members feel crime far exceed reported levels. supported by their union at a Check the UNISON website time of major change that could unison.org.uk for updates So there is an important response affect their work and home lives. on UNISON’s work on exiting from us in terms of reasserting our In particular, supporting EU the EU. values, challenging and members and their families by standing together against hate. advocating the right to remain Download Galop’s 2016 hate UNISON has a key part to play in in the UK with all existing rights, crime report at galop.org. this and in protecting our rights actively campaigning against all uk/news/the-hate-crime- as workers, trade unionists, public racist attacks and xenophobia report-2016 service users and indeed our and promoting anti-racism, anti- human rights. discrimination and equality. UNISON LGBT BS UNISON GIVING LGBT MEMBERS A VOICE 11 ULIT

Reviewing our international work This year, we have looked back on our LGBT international work to review what progress we’ve made. We think it’s impressive, but you can judge for yourself.

Jackie Lewis conference had 170 participants A growing minority of unions now National LGBT committee from 30 countries, including Asia work on LGBT equality and UNISON and Lambeth UNISON and Africa. The global federation has links with most of them. Our for public service unions, Public international LGBT equality work UNISON’s first lesbian and gay Services International (PSI) set up a has always been focussed where conference in 1994 set the framework working party to take work forwards. we can have an effect. This may be for our international work, building on Jointly with Education International by plugging away at an objective work in former partner union NALGO. (EI), the global federation for over many years, taking advantage These have always been closely linked education, they produced a lesbian of unexpected opportunities, or to UNISON’s international priorities. and gay workers equality handbook responding to calls for solidarity. and training materials for unions. It means working closely with We aimed to promote of lesbian This groundbreaking handbook, others, and benefiting from the and gay issues in the trade union written under UNISON’s direction, insight of those whose main focus movement and trade union/UNISON was launched at the 1999 ILGA is international work. That is why perspectives in the lesbian and World Conference in Johannesburg. active participation in ILGA remains gay movement. Targets included one of our top priorities. partner unions around the globe The 2002 ‘Workers Out!’ conference and global union federations of in Sydney recommended that PSI In 1993, ILGA was an activists which UNISON was a member. We and EI establish an LGBT (yes, network, one of the worst resourced pledged active involvement in ILGA things had moved on!) trade union global organisations in the world, (then the International Lesbian and forum to assist unions tackle LGBT with a small office in Brussels and Gay Association) and to develop discrimination. We worked with one part time member of staff. Over our links with the few lesbian and groups in sister unions to push for the years, we have made a major gay networks in other public service action. In July 2004, EI and PSI contribution to ILGA developing unions and, largely through ILGA, launched a joint LGBT Forum and into the organisation it is today. lesbian and gay groups in other a declaration committing to a wide With a team of staff in the ILGA parts of the world. range of lobbying activities world office in Geneva, it now has towards governments, the United an extensive work programme Our ILGA affiliation was then quite Nations and the International towards the various bodies of the recent. The 1992 ILGA world Labour Organisation. UN. A well-resourced ILGA Europe conference had one last minute trade is indisputably the ‘go-to’ LGBTI union workshop. By 1994, this had The handbook was revised as organisation in Europe. There developed into a specific labour track, an LGBT publication, again with are many positive developments, in which UNISON had a high profile. UNISON support, and relaunched including setting up of small offices, By 1996, we were working with at the second joint EI PSI LGBT in other regions. ILGA now has 1100 others on the first ever world lesbian Forum in Vienna in 2007. A 3rd member organisations from 110 and gay trade union conference, Forum was held in South Africa in countries and continues to grow in held in Amsterdam in 1998 to 2011. There have since been two size and strength. coincide with the Gay Games. further Workers Out conferences, which continue to be launchpads for We continue to seize opportunities This 1998 ‘Trade Unions, initiatives on LGBT trade union and to take forwards our work for and Work’ human rights. LGBT equality. UNISON LGBT MEMBERS UNISON GIVING LGBT MEMBERS A VOICE 12 EQUALITY

Out in UNISON Pass notes Subject: Out in UNISON Really? Isn’t that a bit self-indulgent? Well this is issue 60, so we thought it was interesting to look back.

Age: The first issue was January quite clear what that meant) Is there a stand out issue? It’s 1994, six months after UNISON and what the Tories dubbed wrong to have favourites, but was formed from our three former ‘pretend families’. Trans people the issue that celebrated our partner unions. couldn’t get their gender legally becoming an LGBT group in 2005 recognised. There was no legal was pretty special. Appearance: Issue 1 was four recognition for same sex partners. pages of pink and purpleness. A same sex couple couldn’t jointly So this is the 60th issue then? It quickly grew to eight and then apply to adopt. You could be Well... when we made a digital twelve pages. In spring 2006, it refused services simply because archive a few years ago, we noticed moved to a fetching aqua orange you were LGBT. We still have a lot there hadn’t been an issue 28. Oops. colour combo, before settling on to campaign for, but we’ve won Issue 27 was Spring 2006, issue 29 the more UNISON purple and real progress. was Summer 2006. Suggestions for green it sports today. what 28 might have included on a What are the most regular postcard to [email protected]! So what was in the first issue? articles across all the issues? Front page was the forthcoming Pride of place in Out in UNISON If you had to sum up Out in Parliamentary vote on lowering the goes to news from branch and UNISON in one word, what age of consent for sex between regional LGBT groups. It’s about would that be? men from 21. Out in UNISON called keeping everyone in touch and Easy – celebration. for equality with the age for mixed sharing brilliant ideas. Also up couples of 16. The outcome that there are profiles of activists, Don’t say: Sixty (OK 59) issues year was a lowering to 18, with which are always inspirational. – surely that’s enough? equality at 16 not achieved till 2001. Then there are our campaigns, Other articles explained the new info about new resources, Do say: I’ve got something for the national lesbian and gay committee publicity for events, legal victories, next issue of Out in UNISON! and how it would work, including guest columns. And we do love its Black and disabled members these pass notes. uThere is always an issue caucuses, and how members could in preparation. Email get involved in our group locally, [email protected]. We look regionally and nationally. forward to hearing from you!

What other legal changes has it covered? Glad you asked that – it’s good to remind ourselves. Back in 1994, we had no employment protection. You could be sacked for being lesbian, gay or bisexual or because you were trans. was in force, which infamously banned local authorities from promoting homosexuality (we were never Published and printed by UNISON, UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road London NW1 2AY

CU24130 / November 2016 / STOCK NO.3269 / UNP14494 / 3,000