A motion was submitted on LGBT asylum seekers at the Proud AGM;
There was much discussion on it from people who work in that department and it will be looked at in regards to meetings with other affected groups before going back to the department concerned.
We have been editing Black members’ motion to TUC Black Workers on fighting hate crime in Europe; drafting PCS amendment for TUC LGBT on East End gay pride;
Pav wrote an article on why challenging racism and fascism in the LGBT community is a priority;
We are also working on support for UK BP and other LGBT organisations that are BME.
Pav also appeared on Television channel 4, talking about Transgender BME issues within the Muslim and other communities. He was very good. We will be looking to articles on BME side of Trans issues.
We are now looking at the issues that have been passed at National conference like Asylum Issues and other issues not covered on the black members plan.
We will be drawing up an action plan and looking at a training session for BME people.
We produced content for who we are, what we do and how members can contact us for the Proud introductory pack and web site.
Following requests from Proud member about how to improve awareness of Black LGBT issues within Proud and PCS, we pushed for a review of training programmes, and made the case for including Black members as well as representatives of other under-represented sections of Proud at training events. The rational is that we should enable the diversity of Proud to speak for itself. We continue to work for these proposals to be incorporated in a format that will deliver on the good intentions.
Maintained an active engagement with emerging policy and training proposals, notably those relating to asylum and protection; religion and sexuality; wider issues of prejudice and persecution, were equality proofed.
Actively organised and built for participation in the very successful UK Black Pride event (in mid August) which celebrates the lives and experiences of Britain’s African, Asian, Caribbean and Middle Eastern heritage LGBT people. This is the largest event of its kind inEurope. We secured PCSand Proud sponsorship for the event and, alongside PCS staff and members volunteers, we staffed a popular stall which boasted PCS and Proud materials, and a specially designed leaflet. We were also able to speak from the main stage on challenging racial and religious bigotry as well as fighting homophobia.
Black pride takes into the needs of BME is regards issues, music, food, celebration of cultures and film. It is not a celebration for BME people but a celebration that celebrates other cultures in LGBT pride. All people are welcome. You do not need to be BME to come or join. All LGBT are welcome.
Pav wrote an article for the PCS Union magazine, Activate, about the impact of the Tory government’s cuts on Black and LGBT people, and why members must become active in self-organised groups like Proud.
We attended the PCS Proud Seminar and supervised and assisted with workshops, as well as providing support and encouragement to Black LGBT members, particularly first time participants, and those who were curious to understand more about the multiple challenges facing this cross section of the LGBT community.
In line with the motion passed at PCS ADC on asylum seekers and the LGBT community, we wrote letter to new Home Secretary, Theresa May, calling for Brenda Namigadde to not be deported to Uganda.
We mobilised other members to follow suit. Nationally, more than 60,000 letters were sent to the UK Borders Agency and Brenda was given a last minute reprieve.
However, on Weds 2nd February, Brenda will have her asylum claim revisited and the court will decide once and for all to approve or deny her request to live openly and freely in the UK.
The situation looks positive with many supporters emerging in her defence, but we must maintain pressure on Theresa May and the Conservative government to live up to its promise to prioritise LGBT asylum claims. We hope to join further protest actions.
PCS Proud-sponsored UK Black Pride as best Black and Minority Ethnic Community Group in the Annual Pink Paper Reader’s Awards 2011.
Uk Black Pride won a stonewall award for the event.
Pav collected the stonewall award for best community organisation of the year in 20011 alongside Phylis, this was in recognition of the UK Black Pride’s work’s work to combat racism and homophobia.
We have completed the black pride this year with a good number of signatures to support the government’s idea to get rid of the equality commission.
The stall was good and thanks to Carl for all the things for it. Still used flyers and other material brought 2 years ago. The rain spoilt the event for a while.
The gazebo held well especially as it is only for showers and not full downpours, but the issue of the chairs needs to be sorted – as the equality department cannot find them and proud had to buy them out of the budget – may have to look to buy again with money from the equality department.
Our next challenge is to use all the evidence from solicitors for LGBT immigration group and from Amnesty International to show the department what has been going on and where improvement need to be made.
Consultation will have to made with them and cases and evidence brought forward. Need to sort out another meeting with the home office with the other organisations who have been working with us on this issue.
With 2 motions at national conference passed regarding immigration, it is time to move it forward.
Leaflets for the seminars for the black reps are ready to put into the pack along with other material.
Both of us were involved in the N30 – as Jay appeared on local radio to speak out against the cuts to minority organisations and how the government is already eroding the rights of black, LGBT and other minority groups by trying to watering down the equality act.
We both signed a petition online against that and also promoted it on facebook and other places. Jay also talked about the way once the support groups and organisations for minority groups go – we may lose them forever and never get them back again. He made it clear that with the present government are taking the rights away from employees and we are moving back to the dark ages in regards to rights at work and in life.
We regularly update the PCS Proud facebook page with stories and BME articles.
We will move further in our attempt to push things further for LGBT BME members, but we need support from others and also more LGBT black minority ethnic people to be involved. Hope to see you soon.
Jeremy Bedford
