IDAHOBIT 2019, with GMB North West & IRISH Region.
May 17th
every year is International Day Against Homophobia Biphobia and Transphobia.
For many years in Germany, May 17 had been unofficially
given the labeled as a sort of "Gay Day." Written in the date format
17.5., it had a natural affinity with Paragraph 175 of the Penal Code, the rule
dealing with homosexuality.
The IDAHOBIT day, as a concept, was conceived in 2004. Frenchman
Louis-Georges Tin was founder of the day, and acted as its Committee
Chairperson until his resignation in September 2013. The date of May 17th was
specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in
1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
The date exists as both a Worldwide celebration of sexual
and gender diversities, and to draw the attention to the violence and
discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgender, intersex
people and all other people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identities
or expressions, and sex characteristics.
For 2019, JUST A BALL
GAME? teamed up with trade union GMB as the North West and Irish region
supported our event day at The Manchester College (TMC).
Equality, Inclusion
and Diversity runs through the heartbeat of GMB trade union membership in
workplaces and also within the movement itself. Recently the NW&I region
has set up a self organised group (SOG) for members who identify as LGBT+ and
also their allies, to drive forward this equality strand under their mission
statement:
Through
education we will raise awareness
Through campaigning we will challenge
Through tolerance we can be #StrongerTogether.
Through campaigning we will challenge
Through tolerance we can be #StrongerTogether.
The group comes under the banner of GMB SHOUT! North West.
JUST A BALL GAME? and GMB NW&I partnered to spend the
day at TMC Openshaw Campus where they delivered 2 presentations on LGBT+
inclusion and diversity, tutoring on how to effectively challenge homophobic,
biphobic and transphobic bullying and abuse to over 40 students and tutors. There
was also a basic introduction to the trade union work that is delivered locally
for members, why young people are being encouraged to know their rights in the
workplace, and how equality strands are supported.
Alongside of this both organizations hosted a stall
featuring JBG?’s ‘TIME FOR ACTION’ exhibition panels and resources were handed
out to staff and young people in attendance. Pledges were signed and ‘selfie
boards’ shared to support the college initiatives for the day.
GMB NW&I region Equality Officer Lisa Ryan had the following
to share on behalf of the partnership work for IDAHOBIT 2019:
“Here at the GMB we believe that equality should be at
the heart of everything we do so it is vitally important to use dates such as
this (IDAHOBIT) to really push home the equality message.”
“It's great to work alongside a grassroots campaign like Just a Ball Game? who promote awareness against homophobia/biphobia/transphobia and call out hate and intolerance, not just one day a year but all year round.”
“It's great to work alongside a grassroots campaign like Just a Ball Game? who promote awareness against homophobia/biphobia/transphobia and call out hate and intolerance, not just one day a year but all year round.”
“Our Regional Equality Forum, and LGBT+ Shout! North West
group are proud to support Just a Ball Game? and the sterling work they do.”
http://www.justaballgame.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/GMBShoutNW/
https://www.gmb.org.uk/region/northwest
http://www.justaballgame.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/GMBShoutNW/
https://www.gmb.org.uk/region/northwest
