Pride 2009
The committee attended various pride events and we also had the union LGBT banner at many events where the committee could not attend, but members requested the banner to raise the profile of the union and the FRS. In 2009, we were able to get to the following Pide events:
Birmingham in May, with our regional rep Lisa Slevin and the West Midlands FRS
London, in July, with over 45 members of the FBU in attendance and other FRS managers and personnel attending, making it one of the highlights of the year. We were also able to march with Mariela Castro, the daughter of the president of Cuba, Raul Castro. We also had Dr Alberto Roque Guerra, Coordinator of CENESEX attend with us. CENESEX is Cuba’s National Centre for Sex Education, and Alberto is a major player within this organisation. He is also attending the FBU national LGBT School in October 2009, so make sure you can get to this to hear him talk more about the struggles in Cuba and the FBU’s work with him and CENESEX. For more on the school click on this link:
Brighton, in August, was the memorable event of the year with over 50 members and other FRS staff. We also had 3 chief fire officers march with us including the Pesident of CFOA John Bonney. John was kind enough to do an interview for the union, which hopefully will appear in the DVD we are producing. This DVD will be available in 2010, watch out for more news on that.
Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme
There are now 36 Fire and Rescue Services who are members of the programme and this really is fantastic news. Find out if your FRS is a member by clicking on the link:
If your fire service is not included and you believe that it should be please get in touch with us and we will continue to fight to see all UK FRS’s in the programme, showing that they truly believe in the LGBT agenda.
FBU LGBT School 2009
Please try to get along to our 11th school being held in Sheffield on the16, 17 and 18 October.
Contact Yannick Dubois for more information Yannick.Dubois@fbu.org.uk 07824 319 545
To download an application form online, click on this link:
Progressive LGBTQ politics: shaping the future
This conference, sponsored by the CWU and FBU, took place in London on 4 April 2009. Speakers addressed a series of important questions for LGBT activists.
In the morning session chaired by Stewart Brown, Executive Council FBU/LGBT, Angela Eagle MP the first out lesbian minister, spoke on a platform with Dr Peter Purton (author of Sodom, Gomorrah and the New Jerusalem) and Cllr. Katie Hanson, co-chair of LGBT Labour. This session, discussed how far progress towards equality had been secured under a Labour government and what would happen if the Conservatives won the next general election. The following discussion focussed specifically on the position within the labour movement, where speakers included Maria Exell, vice-chair of the Labour Representation Committee and CWU NEC member, and Gavin Hayes of Compass.
Subsequent sessions, which were chaired by Pat Carberry, Secretary FBU/LGBT, heard contributions covering a wide range of issues including the current position of trans people’s rights, sex workers, and the threat posed by racism and fascism. Cleve Jones, visiting the UK from the US hotel and catering workers union Unitehere, gave an inspiring account of campaigns that had successfully created alliances between local LGBT communities and HIV activists and low-paid hotel workers in joint action to win better conditions.
The event closed by affirming that the lively discussion that had taken place should be seen as the beginning of debate, not the end. There were many issues that had to be explored, and the conference – largely attended by labour movement activists – was aware of the importance of creating links with activists from within the community.
