PRIDE COMMITTEE WE ARE EVERYWHERE!

BY DARCI WANAMAKER - PRIDE COMMITTEE COORDINATOR

THIS YEAR HAS ALREADY PROVEN TO BE A BUSY ONE FOR OUR PRIDE COMMITTEE, AND THERE’S A LOT MORE YET TO COME!

For the first time ever, Queensland Unions will come together to celebrate LGBTQ+, intersex, and gender diverse workers at the Union Pride Awards in September 2023.

These Awards will recognise both a union campaign and an active member or Delegate fighting for safe, equal, and inclusive workplaces. The nominations opened on 17 May on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) and we hope to see some of our deserving members be nominated for this inaugural award!

In addition to being part of planning the Union Pride Awards event, our Pride Committee also attended the 2023 Young Workers’ Conference to talk about our Committee’s We Are Everywhere campaign with other young unionists.

Those in our Pride Committee who have been an active and driving force behind this campaign understand that visibility of LGBTQ+, intersex, and gender diverse workers is absolutely essential.

Across the union movement, this campaign is now adapted and adopted by other Queensland unions to better support members, increase visibility, and broaden the inspiring work that our ASU Pride members have started.

The We Are Everywhere campaign would not have existed without our members voices shaping it into what it is, and though it is widely understood by our LGBTQ+, intersex, and gender diverse members that there is still a lot of work to do in this space, we know too that this campaign will continue to be the vehicle that drives us forward together.

It was also wonderful to catch up with members of the Queensland Union’s Pride Committee at this year’s Labour Day in Brisbane. It was not only wonderful to march and celebrate our LGBTIQ+ members, but to also show solidarity to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander union members and their families. The Pride Committee understands the importance of being seen and heard and fully support the Uluru Statement From The Heart. We are completely supportive of the YES Campaign for a Voice to Parliament.

For more information about our Union’s We are Everywhere campaign, contact our Pride Committee: pride@theservicesunion.com.au