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FDA attends TUC LGBT Conference and London Pride     

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Part of the FDA delegation to TUC LGBT+ Conference

To mark the end of Pride Month, FDA delegations attended the TUC LGBT+ Conference and Pride in London.

TUC LGBT+ Conference

A delegation of FDA members attended the TUC LGBT+ Conference held at Congress House in London held 3-4 July. This was the last of the TUC equality conferences 2025, which aim to advance issues that disproportionally impact minority groups.

The FDA put forward one motion: ‘The duty to prevent sexual harassment’. This motion focused on the bullying, harassment and discrimination of LGBT people in the workplace and the duty employers have to set policies and procedures that reflect the fact that whilst more likely to happen to women, sexual harassment can happen to any employee, whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity. It is also critical that reporting structures avoid inadvertently ‘outing’ LGBT+ workers to colleagues.

The motion called on the TUC LGBT+ Committee to: 1) Continue to revise TUC guidance and toolkits to reflect the duty to prevent sexual harassment, including references to LGBT+ experiences; 2) Campaign for employers to revise their policies, guidance, and training on sexual harassment to incorporate reference to the sexual harassment of LGBT+ employees; 3) Issue model policies for employers which use gender inclusive language and direct employees to a wide range of support including LGBT+ specific support. The motion was passed by the Conference.

Allan Carman moves FDA motion on preventing sexual harassment

The FDA motion coincided with the launch of new TUC research into bullying, harassment, and discrimination at work, which shows that almost 300,000 LGBT workers feel more at risk of bullying and harassment due to their LGBT identity. 

The TUC polling found that for LGBT+ workers who have faced workplace mistreatment, this came in different forms: 

19% reported verbal abuse (including name calling) about LGBT+ people, directed at themselves or others. 

37% reported offensive jokes or banter about LGBT+ people

28% experiences homophobic, bi-phobic or transphobic remarks directed at them or made in their presence

FDA delegate Joshua Sanderson-Kirk also seconded a motion from Community on ‘Ending HIV stigma, ending HIV transmissions’ and Maria Ionescu spoke in support of NAHT’s motion covering ‘LGBT+ education in our schools’.

Reflecting on his first time attending and speaking at Conference, Sanderson-Kirk said:

“Attending the TUC LGBT+ Workers conference was a privilege, both to be able to represent those FDA members who define as LGBT+ but also to meet with activists from across the trade union movement.  The conference debated and passed a number of very important motions, which the delegation was able to support. 

“On behalf of the FDA, I was able to second a very consequential motion calling on the TUC to work to support the government’s HIV action plan with a goal to end new HIV transmissions by 2030.  This follows an FDA motion from the 2019 conference which has been credited with pressuring the government to provide access to PreP for men who have sex with men.  This demonstrates the real impact that collective action by unions can have.”

FDA delegate Maria Ionescu added:

“It was refreshing being in an environment where people openly discuss issues that you sometimes have to tiptoe around in daily life, and I felt privileged to be around such knowledgeable people, dedicated to making things better. Despite filling a large room, the conference had the feeling of a gathering of friends, with many people already knowing each other. I would definitely like to be a returning face in that impressive crowd, and will try to come back in future years.”

Discussing his time at the conference, FDA delegate David Johnson said:

“This was my first year attending the TUC LGBT+ conference, although I’m a conference veteran from many years attending various STUC events. Aside from the networking opportunities, and the chance to see the trade union movement speaking with one voice on issues such as trans inclusion, ending HIV stigma, and FDA’s motion on the duty to prevent sexual harassment, it was useful to be reminded that the progress we have seen in the civil service on LGBT+ issues in recent decades hasn’t been matched in all sectors – too many of our union siblings are still encountering unacceptable behaviours in the workplace with limited support from employers.

“All employers can do better, and TUC equality conferences offer the chance to share experience and best practice, to amplify voices which are too often underrepresented, and to shape and advocate inclusive, intersectional policies for the benefit of all workers. It was eye-opening, uplifting, and a privilege to attend.”

Pride in London

FDA National Officer (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) Amelia Dowler led a delegation of 14 members, plus their friends and family at the Pride in London parade on Saturday 5 July.

An estimated 30,000 participants joined the parade this year, which passed through Whitehall. A significant proportion of participants are from trade unions and other non-profit organisations. As well as a using Pride as an opportunity celebrate Pride in London’s values, such as highlighting the unity and visibility of the LGBT+ community, unions see Pride as a platform to highlight workplace issues faced by LGBT+ members.

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