|
LESBIAN & GAY MEMBERS' SELF ORGANISED GROUP 11th National Lesbian and Gay Conference: Blackpool, 28-30/11/2003 ‘Pride in Our Work: Celebrating Today, Organising for Tomorrow’ Hello comrades! I was officially invited this year to the 11th Unison Lesbian and Gay Conference, 2003, this as a delegate from Notts. County Unison Branch. Being a newcomer to this forum, but by no means to UNISON, I was perhaps a little unsure of what to expect from the weekend – and setting off on a bleak, late November day to Blackpool was perhaps held with a little optimism and some trepidation, but hey – I had the Friday off and so what the hell! After a tortuous train journey to the Northwest, I finally arrived at the ‘Norbreck Castle’ Hotel at Bispham, Blackpool. The Hotel holding some familiarity to me, unfortunately due in part to its faded ambiance of which I recollected from an interior scene from ‘The Shining.’ (Staff included I’m afraid!). However, thanks to some comfort from our friends from the Mental Health sector membership, I was to be constantly reassured and not to be too alarmed? I quickly relaxed with ‘refreshments’ and prepared myself for the start of conference later that afternoon – here, meeting up with a very welcoming crowd and some familiar faces from the East Midlands Branch of UNISON, and discussing, and finalising our own local agenda in preparation for the bigger picture the next day. We later headed off in different directions for discussion in our own ‘Service Groups’, myself here representing branch as a Local Government employee. High on the agenda for conference this year was voting for inclusion to National LGB group for our Transgender colleagues – already inclusively adopted by the TUC. Much discussion had precluded this final voting forum for conference, and some contentious debates had previously prevailed. The vote was eventually carried the next day. Welcome! Settling into the hotel and the general swing of things, it was a quick visit out to the chippie for supper, as the cold (pre-packed sandwich) buffet looked a little uninviting. The first of two fun filled socials in the ‘Ballroom’ led into the early hours of Saturday, (was Jack Nicholson there?), here again meeting loads of like-minded colleagues and friends and for me, possibly the most important thing was to be in what felt like a majority for once! (And finally, no, there was still NO sign of Bet Lynch’s pre-wedding nuptials in Blackpool that weekend!). Conference commenced on Saturday with acknowledgments from an eventful year, and through recent campaigning successes in working towards Lesbian and Gay equality; (see www.unison.org.uk/out); including, and more particularly, the long-awaited repeal of Section 28, (finally on 17/11/03 and almost left us unnoticed by the tabloid media); the implementation of the Employment Equality Regulations, (1/12/2003), workplace protection on the grounds of sexual orientation; and, by no means finally, the (emerging) future recognition of same sex partners through forthcoming legislation. A number of motions were carried including presentations from regional groups concerning a number of issues relevant to our LGB conference, including, (and locally, from our own branch), issues concerning homophobic bullying in schools and the isolation of L.G. students, to the wider International issues, and raised by Black members group concerning ‘J-Flag’, the ‘Jamaica Forum For Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays’, campaigning and educating us all against the continuing blatant oppressions which continue for our friends and relatives overseas. (http://www.jflag.org). A brilliant weekend!! – If you’re relevant to our group membership – get along to your local branch to either participate, or to receive information via our self-organised group mailing list. Please contact: [email protected] Adrian Eddyshaw The Branch's Lesbian & Gay Members' Officer is: David King
|
MEETINGS FOR 2004 David is in the course of setting up meetings and we will add details when they are available. For UNISON's national Lesbian & Gay website, click here |