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Full of joy and humour, delegates at Unifor’s first Pride conference gathered this weekend in Port Elgin.
“The Conference brings together LGBTQ members so we can get to know one another, build our community – and support each other in our work to ensure our union is inclusive and a powerful champion of LGBTQ issues,” said Desiree Gill, a member of Local 111 and one of the conference organizers.
The conference, which was themed LGBTQ Health Matters, explored the ways in which the health and well-being of LGBTQ people is impacted by discrimination, ignorance, homophobia, transphobia – and austerity.
“This conference isn’t just about what’s wrong. It’s also about what we’re doing to create better lives for ourselves and our communities,” said Benoit Lapointe, a member of Local 2002 and another conference organizer.
Stressing the role that unions have played in the struggle for LGBTQ rights, Anna Willats, who delivered the keynote address, said, “Unions were pivotal to winning same-sex benefits and have helped make this country less homophobic.”
Willats also remarked that we live in a time where an attitude of “What’s in it for me?” prevails. “If that attitude had been dominant in earlier decades, we would never have had such significant gains as we have had for LGBTQ rights.”
Unifor National President Jerry Dias also addressed the conference. “I am your ally,” he said. “And the union we are building is one that is about solidarity, and about working together to change this country – for everyone.”
Dias noted that many of Unifor’s LGBTQ members have fought tremendous battles in their workplaces, in their communities, and even in their union. “Frankly, some of you have fought battles that make some of the fights I’ve led look like a walk in the park. You have so much to give our union and our movement.”
