LGBT RMT members are organising for mutual support, against homophobia and for equality.
From General Secretary Bob Crow
I am pleased to inform you that the National LGBT Members’ Conference has been extended to take place over two days. The next conference will be in Blackpool on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th May 2013 at The Best Western Carlton Hotel, 282-286 North Promenade, Blackpool FY1 2EZ.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union held a protest outside the Ugandan embassy in London over the governments plan to introduce a new law known as the 'Kill the Gays Bill.' If this bill is enacted, Uganda would be one of the legally most discriminatory places for sexual minorities in the world.
RMT members handed out hundreds of leaflets in Trafalgar square and helped to spread awareness of LGBT Ugandan's plight to thousands more with flags and banners which caught the attention of many passers-by. Several people approached us to voice there support for LGBT Ugandan's and disgust at what the government there is planning.
This is a synopsis of the report given by the London Transport Region Executive Member Janine Booth to the London Transport Regional Council Meeting on 29th November 2012.
To get more details please try and attend your branch meeting or regional council - your rep should have more information too. Alternatively this site has lots of information and material for workplaces in the London Region.
LTRC RESOLUTIONS
PMAs
RMT LGBT demonstration: Solidarity with Ugandan LGBT people! Stop the "Kill The Gays" bill!
Location: UGANDA HIGH COMMISSION, TRAFALGAR SQUARE, LONDON, WC2N 5DX (Map).
The Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality “Kill the Gays” Bill has been placed on the schedule of Parliament - meaning it will be on business of the day any time from now.
The Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law in Uganda has called for protest actions across the World.
We note the full Council of Executives has asked us to prepare a 'strategy to eradicate homophobia'. We instruct the General Secretary to prepare this work based on a non exhaustive list of ideas, e.g.
Council of Executives decision: That we increase the LGBT Conference to 2 days from 1 as it is now.
The RMT held a protest outside the Russian Federation Embassy in Kensington to voice our disgust at the governments attacks on gay rights and to voice our support for LGBT people in the country.
RMT's activists organised leafleting and a demo at the embassy on Tuesday. As the building is in a private road we were ushered to a site prepared by the police who were ready for with barriers in place.
RMT is appalled to hear that Uganda's proposed 'Kill the Gays' bill has been placed on the schedule of the country's Parliament and may be debated later today or sometime very soon.
We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Frank Mugisha, executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), and all people fighting the Ugandan Parliament to get rid of this draconian anti-gay legislation.
We join others in describing the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality bill as abhorrent and an offence to decency.
RMT Council of Executives decision:
We note the item from the LGBT Advisory Committee and we instruct the General Secretary to:
Responding to a resolution from the LGBT Advisory Committee, RMT's Council of Executives has made this decision: We note that this is already Union policy and this horrendous attack on under 25s is part of this rotten Government's attacks on working people and noting that our LGBT members feel under further attack as many of them are trapped in circumstances where they are afraid to 'come out', which causes them more problems. The General Secretary is instructed to write to the TUC explaining our position and we are already campaigning with other groups eg.