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UNISON L&G News for the West
Midlands
May 2003 – Volume 4, Issue 2
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(click on the links below for the article you'd like to read) New Act Already Making A Change A union is for life and not just for crises What’s the Labour Government Ever Done For Us? Monitoring for Fair Representation in the West Midlands - February 2002 Name the Regional Newsletter Competition Marching On Against Domestic Violence 11th UNISON Lesbian & Gay Conference New Act Already Making A ChangeThe Adoption and Children Bill became law on 7th November 2002. Although the new law will not be fully implemented until 2004, the first phase of the adoption support measures will be introduced in April 2003. Much was made of the fact that it would now allow lesbian and gay partners to adopt a child, although in reality one person in the relationship already could. It does mean the Government are explicitly saying to fostering and adoption agencies that we are just as likely as anyone else have the skills needed to care for children and must be assessed as prospective parents. The Department of Health states that the Act includes provisions to:
We have heard of positive experiences of lesbian and gay couples who have been assessed, to foster or adopt, and successfully had children placed with them by Birmingham and Wolverhampton local authorities. The Government's new video about adoption makes it clear that lesbians and gay men, single or in couples, will be considered. The issue at the end of the day is not our sexuality but whether we have the ability to meet a child's needs. If you want to know more about the process of fostering or adoption, a Step by Step Guide is available from the British Association of Fostering and Adoption, Skyline House, 200 Union Street, London, SE1 0LX, 020 7593 2000, or www.baaf.org.uk The web-site is user- friendly and has some thought provoking and useful information. Sue
Turner
A union is for life and not just for crisesThe Regional Lesbian and Gay Committee is made up of volunteers. Over the years since UNISON began we have achieved a great deal. Our members have sat on the National Lesbian and Gay Commmittee, where we have represented West Midlands issues across the broader union, and brought back news from other regions. Our members have liaised with other SOGs in our region sharing successes and concerns, while giving and receiving support. Our members have taken motions on a broad range of issues to National Land Gay Conference. Our members have run courses for other Lesbian and Gay and other members. We have shared conference skills, British Sign language, UNISON structures and lesbian and gay parenting issues amongst other things. Our members have supported other members from our region when they are facing prejudice in their workplaces. Now, many of our members have moved on and our committee membership is at the lowest numbers since UNISON began ten years ago. We need members with enthusiasm, regardless of their knowledge of Lesbian and Gay politics or knowledge of UNISON, to get involved. Why not come along and meet other committee members in July at our weekend event, where we will “Explore Sexual Identity”. It will be an interesting and relaxed weekend. A chance to share experiences and opinions and learn from others, it is also a chance to make new friends, stay in a nice hotel, eat well, and learn a bit about the union. (All expenses will be met by the union). Without more members the Regional Group cannot continue to function, so why not come along and hopefully you will be inspired to get involved. More details about this event can be found inside the back cover. If this event is not for you, but you think you might like to get involved why not get in touch and find out more? You can meet us at the UNISON stall at Birmingham Pride or call Pearline Parker-Loney, Regional Officer, on 0121-685 3192, Anita Whitington, Regional Officer, on 0121-685 3158. Anita and Pearline can also be contacted via text phone on 0121- 643 9364 and by e-mail at a.whitington@unison.co.uk or p.parker-loney@unison.co.uk or you could e-mail Sue Turner, Regional Lesbian and Gay Convenor on inanna@unisonfree.net
Bryony O’Hara
Suicide and SexualityYou may have seen the excellent article in a recent Pink Paper (14th March) about young gay men and lesbians who had attempted suicide. You may have read that young gays and lesbians are six times more likely to attempt suicide than straight youth. You will no doubt appreciate that this is a direct consequence of prejudice, homophobia and the failure of our schools to adequately tackle these issues (because their hands are tied by Section 28). You may also have heard that gays account for more than half of youth suicides in the UK. What you may not know is how MPs and government policy makers are trying hard to ignore these facts. Suicide rates are also higher amongst gay and lesbian adults. Of 750 surveyed in 2002 by Birmingham's Pink Shield project, 12% had attempted suicide for reasons connected with their sexuality. Many of you may have contemplated (or attempted) suicide yourselves. I know I felt suicidal on many occasions as a teenager, due to homophobic bullying, lack of self-acceptance, and because I felt I had no one else to turn to. Instead of ending it all, I went further in to the closet to protect myself from my own and others' homophobia. My invisibility cut me off from help, and contributed to the fear and isolation of others like me. Fortunately I've moved on since then, and it's fair to say I'm not just out, I'm also active in challenging homophobia. I feel that I can make a difference both through my activism in UNISON and in my work as a psychotherapist. This doesn't mean that I think everything's sorted - far from it, as I recently had a couple of shocks, which reminded me not to be complacent. One occurred when I was doing a presentation on the ethical issues that arise for therapists if a gay man, struggling with internalised homophobia, asks for psychotherapy 'to help him become heterosexual'. During the discussion a respected senior colleague expressed the view that the issues were much the same as when people request surgery to make them taller (because they view themselves as too short i.e. their problem is more psychological than physical). This view was not challenged, and some of my colleagues who you might even call 'politically correct', murmured agreement. I found this disturbing. Why? - because, when was the last time you heard about 'short-bashings', or laws which prevent short people from marrying, inheriting property, or living in certain countries? When did you last hear people expressing vile prejudice and hatred towards short people who are 'unnatural' 'sick' 'morally wrong' 'perverts' or 'likely to be child molesters'? Society may value tallness, but it isn't steeped in hatred and oppression of short people! Homophobia has a much more far-reaching impact on us. I struggled to understand why they couldn't appreciate this. These differences may seem obvious to you, but they're not always apparent even to experienced mental health professionals who've worked with gay men and lesbians in distress. One reason for this ignorance may be that in my ten years of NHS mental health work I've never been offered training on sexuality issues, and I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Worse, many professionals don't recognize the need for such training even if it is available, or don't view it as a priority if it's suggested. You might think in 21st Century Britain with a 'sympathetic' Labour government that sexuality training issues and suicide rates amongst lesbians and Gay men would be addressed in the NHS. Look no further than the Government's shiny new 'Suicide Prevention Strategy' published in July 2002. This was produced following a wide consultation amongst professionals and service users. The number one goal of this strategy is to reduce suicide rates in high-risk groups (five are identified). Goal two is to promote mental well-being in the wider community (several groups are listed including ethnic minorities and older people). However, despite the wealth of evidence about the high incidence of suicide amongst lesbians and gay men, there is absolutely no mention of us, or of sexuality, at all in this report! Apparently we're not a high-risk group worth bothering with. Since this is both illogical and scandalous I can only assume that the reasoning behind this blatant omission is political. The repeal of Section 28 is the government's single most effective means of reducing suicide rates amongst young lesbians and gay men. Their failure to repeal section 28 (hopefully not for much longer) means they have blood on their hands. They don't want to draw attention to this fact, and are prepared to undermine the credibility and effectiveness of their suicide prevention strategy to do this. This adds insult to injury and plays politics with people's lives. In January I expressed my concerns in emails to the report's author, Professor Appleby, and to Jacqui Smith MP (for Redditch) the Health Minister responsible for the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (smithjj@parliament.uk or at Dept of Health on dhmail@doh.gsi.gov.uk). I tried again in February but neither has replied. There are people lobbying within the NHS and the social care sector to get gay and lesbian mental health issues back on the agenda, but often they are simply ignored. If you feel strongly about these issues I would urge you to contact your own MP or write to Jaqui Smith. I will continue to speak out on this issue because it is so close to my heart, and because I will not silenced by a prejudice that kills. James Eyre
Mental Health Act 1983Many of us will never see the inside of a psychiatric ward, nor even think about it. Others of us are less lucky, and having an understanding and supportive partner can be a positive lifeline when our rights are removed. Someone who is deemed to have a mental illness, which two doctors (generally your GP and a psychiatrist) believe requires assessment and treatment in hospital, can be compulsorily detained if an Approved Social Worker agrees. The ASW is specially trained in the Mental Health Act 1983 and their brief is to find the least restrictive way of treating the "patient". If they do not believe admission is needed they can decline to make an application for admission. In order to make this decision they would generally speak to any professionals the "patient" is known to and their "Nearest Relative". It can be complicated to ascertain who this is unless someone lives with their spouse or common-law partner. Back in 1983, when the law was written, lesbian and gay partners were not considered to be unmarried partners, and homosexuality was still seen as a mental illness. This meant that if you were heterosexual and had lived with your partner for 6 months you were considered to be the Nearest Relative, if you were lesbian or gay you had to have lived with your partner for 5 years! Totally discriminatory, and it could mean that your eldest parent, who hates your partner because of your sexuality, could be the person that is actually consulted. The Nearest Relative also has other powers but I'll not digress. A lesbian challenged this in November 2002, which has resulted in same sex partners being treated as a cohabitee and having to fulfil the 6 month rule rather than the 5 year one, thus becoming the Nearest Relative. The Dept. of Health also agreed so there wasn't an appeal. Good news for some of us.
Sue Turner
What’s the Labour Government Ever Done For Us?In 1972 I was living with my first boyfriend. “You know,” he said, “twenty years and nobody will bat an eyelid.” I thought, “I ain’t waiting twenty years.” Gains came within our own community, occasionally in society, never with the state. Then came 1997. For the first time ever a UK government held out the prospect of lesbian and gay equality. But, by now, I’m getting on a bit for prospects. What did Labour promise? No Lesbian and Gay Equality Bill. That was never on the cards. Instead, a piecemeal approach. First up was equalising the age of consent for gay men. In 1994 the Tories had reduced it from 21 to 18 with most opposition MPs voting for 16. Unfinished business. Manifesto commitment. When it took Labour three and a half years to adopt this particular measure it became pretty clear we weren’t high on their agenda. The early Blair years, however, saw other gains; Immigration reform in 1997 allowed unmarried partners of four years' standing to enter or remain in the United Kingdom. But it was practically impossible to stay here for four years to qualify, so very few couples benefited. In 1999 it was reduced to two years. The 1999 Asylum and Immigration Act also recognised that those who fear persecution may do so because of their sexuality. Almost certainly the only thing to cheer about when it comes to this government’s record on asylum, though it was implicit in the wording of the 1951 convention. Early in 2000 they let us join the army. That was because the European Court told them to. The Military Police carried on with their humiliating investigations of soldiers’ sex lives till the day of the court decision. Lesbian and gay soldiers kicked out then have been called up to fight in Iraq. These three examples showed how the Blair clique like to do things as far as we are concerned. Noiselessly. Without much of a campaign from the lesbian and gay communities. Without a fuss in the House of Lords. Or from the gutter press. As long as their business chums stand aside since it doesn’t affect their profits. And blame Europe. On housing there has been no legislation but non-binding guidance that same-sex partners should succeed to tenancies. It doesn’t apply to the private sector, the most rapidly growing part of the housing market under Labour, but the House of Lords made a ground-breaking decision in a 1999 case which may establish a legal precedent to help others escape eviction. The 1975 Inheritance Act remains. If we die without a will our blood families get the lot. Our real families get nothing. Our next-of-kin is our spouse or a near blood relative. Power of Attorney concerns financial affairs not care or wellbeing. Under the Mental Health Act our partners may be appointed our guardians but have no right to be considered. Living wills have no legal standing. In London and Brighton and Bath and Liverpool we can register our partnerships. But this has no legal standing either. The Cabinet Office has been doing some work on this but hasn’t made up its mind. A European Union Directive requires member states to recognise the partnership rights of couples who have legally registered in another member state. Now to sex: no change in the law on pornography but no recent prosecutions for portraying any thing not illegal in itself. Male sex workers are seldom prosecuted if they work from home on their own account. They get less hassle than their female colleagues. But they are in a legal limbo since it is a criminal offence in itself for a gay man to offer sex or ask for it. Coyly, they are called “escorts.” For gay men generally, sex is only legal if you do it at home with nobody but you and your partner at home at the time. For men group sex is always illegal. There are no equivalent laws affecting lesbians or heterosexuals. The European Court has ruled that the UK is violating its citizens’ right to privacy. The Government won’t say what it’s going to do about it. The police still spy on “Lovers Lanes” to arrest gay men with sometimes devastating consequences. SM sex is legal providing it only results in transient or trivial injury. Otherwise you risk prosecution under Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 - as if you’d been fighting in the street. Consent is no defence. The Tories’ 1989 Children Act put the rights and needs of children, not of parents, at the heart of things. Lesbian and gay co-parents can seek joint residence orders in the Family Court. The act also meant that lesbians and gay men were not longer automatically disqualified from adopting children but only with the 2002 Adoption and Children Act could they apply as a couple to do so. The equality in Employment (Sexual Orientation) Regulations come into force on 2 December 2003. Again we’ve Europe to thank for forcing Labour to legislate. They thought there was no need; guidance would do. And their law will take effect in the very last day the directive permits. At last, lesbians, gay men and bisexuals will have legal protection from harassment and discrimination but only at work as the regulations are as narrow in scope as the government thinks they can get away with. They will exclude pensions so widows and widowers will carry on getting benefits that our partners do not. UNISON policy is to bring equality to the pension scheme. Actuarial advice is that there is no need to increase the contributions to do so. Even the employers agree. Last, Section 28, Parliament’s most spiteful law since the Act of Proscription forbade wearing of tartan. It only applies to Local Authorities and it forbids “promoting homosexuality” whatever that means. There has never been a single court case but those who need an excuse to silence us, ignore us or withhold resources will refer to it. Labour came to power in 1997 promising to repeal it. In the last parliament they failed. In this one they haven’t tried. As I write, a Local Government Bill has been amended in the Commons with the government support to repeal Section 28 of the 1988 Act. But what will they do if, as before, they face opposition in the Lords? Will they ditch us again to save the rest of their bill? Bob
Deacon
Monitoring for Fair Representation in the West Midlands - February 2002 Everyone on the mailing list, 110 people, were sent monitoring forms. Only 20 were returned, so there was only a 18.18 % return rate, which is comparable to last year's 18.82% return rate. Our mailing list has increased by 25 members in the past year. Of those returned most answered all of the questions. Not every respondent answered every question, so totals under each question do not always add up to 100 % as a consequence. 1. New member of Regional L&G Group? Yes = 40% No = 60% 2. Gender: Female = 55% Male = 45% 3. Ethnic origin: White = 85% Irish = 15% No other respondents 4. Disabled: Yes = 10% No = 90% 5. SOG participation: Lesbian & Gay = 55% Women = 10% Disabled = 10% Black = 0 NB not all members are involved and some are involved in more than one SOG 6. UNISON Membership in years: 0-2 = 15% 3-5 = 15% 6-10 = 30% 11+ = 40% 7. Service groups: Environment Agency = 5% Health = 20% Higher Education = 5% Local Govt. = 65% Other service groups = none 8. Employment sector: Public = 90% Private = 5% Voluntary = 5% 9. Occupational group: Managers = 15% Professional = 45% Personal & Caring = 15% Administrators = 5% Other non-manual = 15% Other manual = 5% 10. Age group: 16-26 = 0 27-50 = 85% 50+ = 15% 11. Subscription band: B = 10% D = 30% E = 20% F = 15% G = 25% 12. Hours worked: Under 16 = 5% 16-29 = 10% 30-34 = 15% 35+ = 70% 13. Retired : Yes = 5% No = 95% 14. National Committees: None 15. Regional Committees: SOG = 15% Regional Council = 10% Regional Committee = 10% Service Group Executive = 10% Provincial Council = 5% 16. Branch positions: Communications Officer = 5% Stewards = 20% Equality Officer = 20% Assistant Secretary 5%
A unique series of women-only events takes place from 7 May until 27 July, raising money for Cancer Research UK. Since it started in 1994, Race for Life has raised more that £35 million for treatment, research and prevention of cancers affecting women. This year's target is 300,000 participants, raising £17.5 million. Women of all ages are invited to walk or run five kilometres for the cause. To be part of it, visit www.raceforlife.org or ring 08705 134 314.
Name the Regional Newsletter CompetitionAs you may be aware the Region produces a quarterly newsletter which is sent out to all activists with their copy of the Focus newsletter and copies are also sent to Branches. “The UNISON West Midlands Regional Newsletter” is the lengthy title of this publication at the moment, but you can help change all that. The deadline for sending in your ideas for the new newsletter name is 1st July. You could win a stereo system or one of the runner up prizes of a pair weekend holdalls, teddies and mugs. The prizes have been donated by Britannia and UIA. Send your entry by post to Tony Rabaiotti, Regional Officer, UNISON, 24 Livery Street, Birmingham. B3 2PA, or by e-mail to the Newsletter Editor at inanna@unisonfree.net. Include your name, address and Branch Details.
Criminal Records BureauWhen applying for a new job information may be requested about any past criminal convictions you may have. If you have criminal convictions that are unrelated to the job or for offences that have been decriminalised you may be interested in reading UNISON's guidance on this. Go to the national website - www.unison.co.uk/bargaining - there is a bargaining guide on this subject in the Bargaining Zone. If you don't have access to the web phone Anita Whitington on 0121-685 3158 or Pearline Parker-Loney on 0121-685 3192.
Marching On Against Domestic ViolenceCan you or your Branch/Group afford just £10 (or more) to oppose domestic violence and support 10 years of UNISON? Yes? Well, Tracy Morgan, Branch Chair, and Carol Rogers, Assistant Branch Sec., from Wolverhampton General Branch have made the commitment to take part in a trek called the "China Challenge 2003," walking along part of the Great Wall of China, organised by the Haven Charitable Trust. The Haven provides quality and sensitive services for women, including lesbians, and their dependent children who are homeless due to domestic violence. The money raised will support women and their children in need of shelter and support in a safe environment, where not only emotional but practical support will be available. Please help us raise money for this important cause by sending cheques made payable to Wolverhampton General Branch. For any further information please write to us at: Wolverhampton General Branch, Mezzanine Level, Civic Centre, St. Peter's Square, Wolverhampton, WV1 1RR or phone 01902 554096.
Oscar’s ColumnIf you are new to my column, where have you been? My name is Oscar, I am a member of the BARC union, (Border and Rough Collies), and I contribute every time an L&G newsletter is put together. Here are my thoughts for this edition, read on and learn ... When I first adopted my pet humans in March 1993, I noticed that they had many hobbies. One of these they call “dyke spotting”. They are quite good at it, because they are always going “there’s one”. On this basis they must have hundreds of points by now, although I have never heard them mention a total. They look out for other humans who fit various criteria. It seems very complicated to me. Most (but not all) dykes have short hair, in the early years dungarees featured a lot, but now so many different clothes can mean a result, tight little t-shirts, large baggy flowery paisley numbers, faded short sleeved t-shirts worn over long sleeved ones, smart formal business suits and still they confidently state “there’s one.” The only thing all dykes seem to have in common is that they are women, beyond that it is all a bit of mystery at times. Tonight they were dyke-spotting on TV, they seemed to be on loads of programmes. A couple were having their garden sorted, and then there were others trekking across a desert in Namibia. Is it me, or are these “dykes” everywhere? Nearly every woman who visits my house seems to be one. Not much hair (except for Bryony who raises the average considerably) and they often seem to smell of seekaywun. So watch out for them, they seem like nice people (generally), despite the fact that many of them seem to be cat lovers. Help is available for this affliction.
Exploring Sexual Identity; a Weekend Course How do you define yourself? What difference do definitions make? What has this got to do with unions? Can UNISON help change prejudicial law in this country? What impact do definitions have? What is the meaning of life? A free weekend course for all non-straight UNISON members in the West Midlands is aiming to look at some of these issues. We don't promise to find all the answers but we will have fun along the way... So if you are a UNISON member working in the West Midlands, and are questioning your sexuality or define yourself as Lesbian, Gay or anything else other than straight we would like you to join in this event. We hope that members have a fun weekend and that they will want to get more involved in the union afterwards, but we promise not to put you under lots of pressure to agree to anything! The course will start on Friday evening and will finish at Sunday Lunchtime, all meals will be provided; Friday Dinner through to Sunday Lunch. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so please apply early. Once you have an agreed place, should you not turn up, it will still cost the union for the Hotel Room and meals. You will be expected to pay if you do not use a reserved place. Get an application from p.parker-loney@unison.co.uk.
19th September 2003 National Disabled Lesbian & Gay Members Network Day 20th September 2003 National Black Lesbian & Gay Members Network Day 5-7 February 2004 Women’s Conference 20-22 February 2004 Black Member’s Conference Details from UNISON direct on 0845 355 0845
11th UNISON Lesbian & Gay Conference 28-30 November 2003, Blackpool This year’s conference will be held in Blackpool and will include a debate on the new direction for Self-Organisation within UNISON. Last year proposals were mooted to change the name and focus of the group to lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered and during the year the consultation process to hear the views of members is taking place. To hear the lively debate you will need to be there. Approach your Branch to find out who they are sending as delegates and get yourself nominated. If you are not “out” in your Branch or workplace you may still be able to go. If your Branch is not sending anyone else, it is possible that you can go as an anonymous delegate. Get in touch with one of the Regional Officers (details on the front page) and they can liaise with your Branch on your behalf. The deadline for delegate registration is 26 September 2003, and for visitor registration, 20 Oct 2003. So why not get yourself organised and contact UNISON direct on 0845 355 0845 for an application form? Bryony
O’Hara
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