Maureen's gave a heart felt and personal account of coming out at work and turning to UNISON to protect her from the homophobic bullying the ensued. She spoke inspiring about how that initial help, then getting involved with the then Lesbian and Gay group, that started her on the road to being UNISON's Vice President.
Delegates discussed the cuts that are impacting on LGBT services such as targeted LGBT youth work and cuts to LGBT community organisations and resolved to use our links with our communities to mobilise LGBT people to defend public services.
With 30 November just over a week away pensions have been a major focus of this conference. Assistant General Secretary Karen Jennings told conference of the key improvements UNISON has made in the past in ensuring equality for LGBT members in pension schemes such as rights for Transgender women as well as equal rights for surviving same sex partners. However attacking the Government's current assault on pensions she said that the 'equality we seek isn't an equality of poverty'.
Passing Emergency Motion 1 conference resolved to 'urge balloted LGBT members to take industrial action' and not only encourage members to attend rallies and demonstrations on the 30th but also to get a 'visible LGBT presence' and encourage LGBT community organisations to support our action.
Be in no doubt, LGBT members are going from this conference to mobilise for industrial action, not as Karen Jennings described it; a 15min 'Tory tea break'.
James Anthony