LGBT delegates show solidarity with strikers

Louise Nousratpour, Equalities Reporter in London
Thursday June 30, 2011
The Morning Star

TUC LGBT delegates sent a message of solidarity to public-sector workers on strike today and vowed to play a leading role in the fight against the government's ideological attacks on the working class.

Pointing to the empty seats on PCS, UCU, NUT and ATL delegation tables, conference chairwoman Maria Exall expressed support for the pickets and urged delegates to "dig deep" when contributing to a lunchtime collection for their striking comrades.

"This Conservative-led government is intent on attacking working people. We must not let those in power divide and rule us."

In her opening address Ms Exall said that LGBT people were among those hit by cuts to local services and attempts to erode hard-won equality rights.

"David Cameron's Tories position themselves as a 'socially inclusive' party but they oppose almost all of the equality laws introduced by Labour," she said.

"They talk about fighting homophobia and transphobia in schools but want to set up so-called free schools which will fragment the system and make it harder to tackle the issue."

Delegates expressed concerns that cuts to police funding would harm the investigation of hate crimes, making LGBT people and other minority groups more vulnerable.

Unite rep Maggie Ryan noted the rise in the number of hate crimes in the past two years as communities are being pitted against each other and forced to compete for social services and jobs.

And similar fears were heard that cuts and changes to the NHS would have a "serious impact" on health and support services for LGBT patients.

Unison delegate Manjit Kaur highlighted that LGBT people were already denied equal access to care because of their sexual orientation.

"I recently asked my GP for a smear test. He told me: 'You're a lesbian, you don't need one dear'," she said to laughs.

CWU delegate Merlin Reader warned Con-Dem ministers of a "much bigger united strike" in the autumn unless they halted the cuts and considered the alternative of progressive taxation and investment in jobs.

"We must criticise Labour leader Ed Miliband and others who say workers are wrong to strike. How else are we going to defend our rights and pay and pensions?"