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FDA delegation attends TUC LGBT+ Workers’ Conference 2026

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FDA delegates at TUC LGBT+ Workers’ Conference 2026

At this year’s TUC LGBT+ Workers’ Conference in Brighton, FDA delegates moved a motion on improving the uptake of sexual health vaccinations and spoke on a number of motions, including ending LGBT+ workplace bullying and harassment.

Lead delegate Allan Carmen moves the FDA’s Motion 9, ‘‘Improving Uptake of Sexual Health Vaccinations’

This year’s FDA delegation for the TUC LGBT+ Workers’ Conference in Brighton was led by Allan Carmen (DESNZ). The rest of the delegation comprised of Joshua Sanderson-Kirk (CPS), Sebastian Brückner (HMRC), Georgios Miliaras (Scottish Government), Maria Ionescu (Fast Stream), Ben Keane-Lyons (Welsh Government), Michail Sanidas (MiP), and Richard Dawes (CPS).

The FDA’s lead delegate Allan Carmen moved Motion 9 at the conference – ‘Improving Uptake of Sexual Health Vaccinations’. This highlighted the higher rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections suffered by gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), transgender women, and gender-diverse people assigned male at birth.

The motion called on the TUC LGBT+ Committee to:

  1. Support unions to raise awareness in workplaces of preventative sexual health vaccinations available to LGBT+ individuals at higher risk.
  2. Campaign for a new Sexual and Reproductive Health Framework addressing healthcare barriers faced by the LGBT+ community, and work with employers to advertise this.

This motion was passed by conference.

FDA delegates also spoke to a number of motions, with delegate Maria Ionescu speaking to Composite Motion 1 ‘Tackling hate, promoting allyship and solidarity – Unions Against LGBT+ Hate’.

Delegate Ben Keane-Lyons also spoke to Composite Motion 2 ‘Safe to Be Ourselves: Ending LGBTQ+ Workplace bullying and harassment’. This called for the greater protection for LGBT+ workers in the face of rising harassment and bullying reports, where over 50% of LGBT+ workers experience harassment or bullying in the workplace, according to TUC research.

Speaking after the conference, delegate Georgios Miliaras stated:

“I found the TUC LGBT+ Conference to be a very informative, engaging and rewarding experience. The networking opportunities and exchange of best practice instilled an even deeper appreciation of everything that we have achieved together as a community, so far, and gave me strong leads for collective actions yet to come.

“Hearing from such a uniquely diverse range of delegates reinforced the importance of advancing LGBT+ equality in the workplace and beyond. Thank you for the opportunity to attend as a first-time delegate and represent our members in The Scottish Government.

Delegate Richard Dawes added:

“The LGBT conference highlighted the strength of unions on issues that impact the LGBTQI+ community in still to this day. The strong motions put forward help to shape what the TUC will take forward.”

FDA delegate Michail Sanidas (MiP) seconds Motion 8, ‘Health tribunal cases’

Delegate Michail Sanidas (MiP), who spoke to Motion 7 ‘Action to improve representation and opportunities for LGBT+ members’ and seconded Motion 8 ‘Health tribunal cases’, said:

“I was delighted to be part of such a thoughtful and committed FDA delegation at this year’s LGBT+ Conference. It provided a powerful space for solidarity, reflection and leadership.

“I was proud to second a motion on behalf of the FDA focused on protecting trans workers and their allies, as well as addressing the growing number of health tribunal cases. The LGBT+ leadership motion also resonated strongly with me, particularly the reminder that “when you’ve experienced both exclusion and support, you realise how much difference the right opportunities can make.”

“The conference highlighted how far we have come in advancing equality, while recognising that for many the journey towards true inclusion remains unfinished—where everyone can bring their full selves to work with dignity, safety and without fear.”

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