391 MPs voted in favour of Maria Miller’s amendment to 57 against, to hold a review of the future of civil partnerships. Labour’s amendment to make the review a speedy one was passed without a division.

Conservative critics had tabled a proposal to let heterosexual couples enter into civil partnerships, if same sex couples were allowed to get married.

The proposal, which would have delayed the new law, was defeated by 375 votes to 70.

Steven Heyward, Proud Secretary, says “It is wonderful that the bill can proceed but we cannot be complacent. A lot of people say it is an issue of conscience but I believe it is an issue of equality. I think it would be amazing if heterosexual couples had the right to have a civil partnership.

Proud continues to battle for equality via our “Proud To…” campaign and thanks Proud Members for getting involved, talking to people and lobbying their MPs.”

PCS Annual Delegate Conference is starting this week and it is important that people speak to folks on the Proud Stall and take as much info away as you can!

You can find out more about Proud To… The new LGBT campaign via our website.

Equal marriage is not an industrial issue but PCS Proud is Proud To… Demand marriage equality for all. We have been campaigning tirelessly, lobbying MPs and other political figures to support marriage equality.

Have you spoken to your MP? Let us know what they said by emailing secretary@pcsproud.org.uk or using the contact form on this website

PCS Annual Delegate Conference meets this week, there will be a PCS Proud stall where you can find more information about our Proud To… Campaign

Steve

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia

(IDAHOBT) – 17th May 2013

UK Black Pride – Europe’s largest community-led, not-for-profit support group for African, Asian and Caribbean lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people – and London LGBT+ Community Pride are pleased to announce they are joining forces for Pride in London on Saturday 29 June 2013.

Just as in previous years, when UK Black Pride has brought great entertainment to renowned venues like the Ministry of Sound and Regent’s Park, this year’s free-entry but ticketed UK Black Pride main event will bring its winning formula to London’s Soho district, as an integral part of the Pride in London celebrations. Detailed plans will follow.

The partnership sees London LGBT+ Community Pride give practical support to UK Black Pride for Pride in London 2013. It also marks a ‘coming home’ for award-winning UK Black Pride which has not participated in recent London Pride activities because of concerns about the structural exclusion of the capital’s diverse LGBT communities.

During its time away, UK Black Pride has successfully built its own distinctive identity as a grassroots-led movement of race, faith and LGBT groups and trade union community allies. It has shown that putting people and politics at the heart of celebrating pride in our LGBT community’s progress is the most effective way to pursue the fight for equality, inclusion and steadfast opposition to all forms of bigotry in every section of society.

Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, UK Black Pride’s founder and Executive Director, said: “We’re excited to bring UK Black Pride home to the heart of the LGBT community as part of Pride in London. We’re determined to reach new sections of the community, without losing our identity as a national group that works for the capital’s Black LGBT people. We’ll bring our own brand of entertainment and education to promote love without borders and ensure this year’s London Pride is one the entire community can feel part of. UK Black Pride’s summer of love line up will include exciting activities and entertainment so make sure you come out to support the community’s Pride in London in 2013.”

Pride will encompass people of every race and faith whether disabled or able-bodied, and all sexualities and genders including gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, queer, questioning, intersex, trans*, genderqueer or non-binary – as well of course as our straight and cis allies.

www.ukblackpride.org.uk

Northern Ireland Anti-Homophobia Week (NIAHW) 13th to 19th May /
International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) 17th May
Did you know that in Northern Ireland 2 in 5 lesbian, gay and bisexual people have been the victim of one or more homophobic incidents within the last three years ranging from verbal attacks, intimidation in their homes and serious physical assaults.
The date May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. In almost 80 countries around the world, loving someone of the same sex is still considered illegal, at times involving lifetime imprisonment and, in 9 countries, it is even punishable by death! And in many more countries still, citizens are denied their right to live according to their preferred gender identity. As well as legal discriminations, social homophobia and transphobia serve to daily deny millions of people across the world their basic human dignity. International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to this issue.
NIAHW and IDAHO are an opportunity for everyone to get involved and stand together against intolerance and prejudice. Get involved by wearing purple to symbolise spirit in the rainbow – remembering those that have lost their lives due to homophobia and transphobia.

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland launches a new LGB site that your PROUD Reps helped design. It includes our details on their Sources of Help and Hub pages. You have the right to be treated fairly at work, when using services and while in education. It is discrimination to treat someone badly because they are gay, lesbian or bisexual, and there are laws in Northern Ireland that protect you against such treatment. The Equality Commission is the body responsible for enforcing anti-discrimination law in Northern Ireland. It is our job to make sure that you know your rights when it comes to equality, and to help you resolve any problems you encounter. Please visit www.some-ni.co.uk for more information.

Belfast Pride Festival – Friday 28th June to Sunday 7th July
The festival runs over the above dates with the Parade and Party Day on Saturday 6th July. All members are invited to join us on the Parade under the PROUD banner followed by a social. Please visit Belfast Pride for further details.

NI PROUD Regional Reps: David Halliday (02890808107) & Gareth Lee (02890565004)

Please visit PCS PROUD for further information and updates.
PROUD is the self-organised group within PCS for LGBT people. Full membership is open to any member of PCS who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered. Associate membership is open to any PCS member who supports the purpose and objectives of PROUD.

www.transgenderni.com

PCS Proud has been making a good impression on social networking sites lately. So much so that a representative of the Lesbian and Gay Foundation got in touch and asked if we wanted to get involved with them etc… Our main concern was that we must include all LGBT members so when I put this to Sarah (from the LGF), she advised me that the LGF has in the past worked with Bi and Trans people and they continue to do so although they are primarily a Lesbian and Gay focused organisation.

I ask that all members and reps of Proud use their website and sign up to their newsletter as there could be vital information that may assist reps and members alike.

The website is www.lgf.org.uk

Thanks

Steve Heyward
Secretary – PCS Proud

Understanding the issues of trans workers

Everyone has a role in creating workplaces where people are acknowledged for their professionalism – not snubbed because of the way they lead their lives.

Saturday November 20 is Trans Memorial Day. Across the world there will be commemorations in honour of trans people who have been murdered or attacked – giving recognition and respect to a section of our community who are habitually overlooked, or purposely ignored.

PCS Proud uses the word ‘trans’ as those who do not identify as the gender they were assigned at birth.

Trans people, anyone who is perceived to be trans, or is associated with a trans person, are protected by law from discrimination at work and in the provision of goods, facilities and services.The Equality Act 2010 protects trans people from unfair treatment, whether or not they have undergone medical reassignment, and also protects people associated with, or perceived as, trans people from unfair treatment, victimisation and harassment.

Trans workers, regardless of whether they have decided to go through the process of medical reassignment, should be treated with respect and fairness. Individuals who are transitioning gender are protected from unlawful discrimination, including in their use of single-sex facilities. This means they must be able to use facilities appropriate to their true gender i.e. not their birth gender. It is an individual’s choice whether to use these, and using separate facilities should never be imposed on them.

The Gender Recognition Act 2004 enables those who comply with certain conditions to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC). To obtain this, the individual must live in their true gender for a minimum of two years, intend to do so permanently, and produce evidence of medical intervention (not necessarily surgery) by a health professional with expertise in gender identity issues. The Act also introduced a criminal offence of breaching anonymity.

  Stamp out bullying

It makes a big difference to trans people if colleagues and managers immediately challenge any mocking, harassing, intimidating or violent behaviour towards them.

Some PCS trans members say they have been ignored and found colleagues afraid or embarrassed about speaking to them “as if I was some sort of ticking bomb” or in case “they said something ‘wrong’ or called me by my former name”.

Other frequent issues are rejection by family, friends, and colleagues; problems stemming from birth gender and true gender identity documents; and disclosure of identity information for pension, recruitment, employment or travel purposes. 

Domestic abuse is suffered by more than a third of trans individuals.

In some situations they may be forced into marriage or become victims of honour killings.

Reliable studies show that the trans suicide rate is way above the national average.

Just this year, two trans people known to PCS Proud’s Trans rep have taken their own lives.

As one PCS trans member said: “The legal hoops we have to jump through, the agonising waiting imposed by disparate bureaucracies…the antics we have to perform to be considered ‘normal’ add up to a very stressful and trying time.”

Trans Memorial Day action points

• Step up awareness raising activities about trans equality – ensure work and union services are accessible, fair, and non-intrusive
• Fundraise for trans charities by selling and wearing specially designed blue and pink ribbons
• Hold a minute’s silence either on Saturday 20 November or on a work day close to it.
• Contact PCS Equalities or PCS Proud for information, advice and support (see box 2)

Sources of advice and guidance on workplace policies and practices

• PCS Proud:  http://pcsproud.org.uk/  Tel:  020 7801 2683
• PCS LGBT toolkit – ‘Trans rights in the workplace’
• Gender Trust:  gendertrust.org.uk/  Tel: 0845 231 0505
• Press for Change:  pfc.org.uk/
• Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES):  gires.org.uk/
• Various on-line UK trans forums e.g. Transsexual-UK on Yahoo Groups
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transsexual-uk/

This article has been submitted by Jo Rowland-Stuart, the Proud Co-rep for Trans members. It shall also feature in the PCS “LGBT Matters” magazine. To contact Jo or Jenni Peters (also co-rep for our trans members) then please feel free to email Proud@pcs.org.uk 

As you know, parliament debated and voted on the first stage of the equal marriage (same sex couples) bill.

Part of one of the motions to the Proud AGM was to publish the details of MP’s votes on the website.

Thanks to the Guardian, here is a table of MPs and how they voted. Please note that the table is called “gay marriage” – this isn’t the choice of PCS Proud but how the table was published.

Equal marriage vote February << Click here to open the spread sheet.

Did your MP vote for equal marriage? whether they did or not at that particular stage, why not get in touch with them? You can email your MP easily by going to http://www.c4em.org.uk

I ask that as many people in London or those that can get there attend.

The Daily Mail cannot be let to get away with abusing LGBT people to the point they may take their own lives.

Steve Heyward
Proud Secretary.