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LGBT Workers

PSI is committed to equality for all irrespective of sex, marital status, ethnic origin, national identity, disability, sexual orientation, age or religion, at the workplace, in trade unions and in the broader political, social, economic and cultural context. LGBT workers’ rights are trade union rights, and trade union rights are human rights. Trade unions are committed to fight against discrimination and for an inclusive non-violent society.

PSI workshop in Indonesia on strengthening women and youth leadership

29 April 2019

The national activity of the PSI - DGB BW project was conducted in Jakarta, Indonesia. Anchoring on the theme “Strengthening Women and Youth Leadership in the Trade Union Movement”, 27 young people from six affiliated unions attended the three-day workshop on April 23-25, 2019.

Missing the mark on gender equality

25 April 2019

Governments don’t do enough to ensure womxn’s* rights to social protection and public services. A joint response from trade unions, and feminist, womxn’s rights and social justice organisations to the CSW63 Agreed Conclusions.

World of Work meeting (New Zealand)

14 January 2019

On 17 March, previous to the five-day ILGA world conference, a meeting titled "World of Work" will be held on the role of trade unions defending LGBTI rights. Both events will take place in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.

70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

10 December 2018

Today, 10 December, we celebrate International Human Rights Day and the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Equality and Dignity for All

17 May 2018

"To live happily, let's live in the closet": For millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and intersex (LGBTII) people, it's not just a privacy issue, but the only way to escape prison or to live full stop. #IDAHOT

IDAHOT 2017 - No more hate speech!

17 May 2017

Today, on the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Bi-phobia, ITUC, PSI and EI jointly call on all trade union leaders to speak out against all forms of discrimination, and say “No more!” to the promotion of hate speech and falsehoods directed at LGBTI people.

Zero Discrimination Day: Make Some Noise – and ACT to Realise the Right to Health

01 March 2017

PSI and its affiliates in the health sector across the world joined in marking March 1, as global Zero Discrimination Day. The day has been set aside since 2014 to raise awareness on the need to roll back all forms of discrimination in access to health services, particularly for persons living with HIV.

Racism? Not for us!

22 March 2014

Speak out and take a stand against racism and xenophobia! On the eve of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March 2014, Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary of the global union federation Public Services International affirms that “our commitment to fight racism and all forms of discrimination is guided by respect for human rights and basic union principles: social justice, equality, collective action and collective responsibility”.

PSAC workshop module: Defending Trans Members’ Rights in the Workplace

10 January 2017

A Public Service Alliance of Canada workshop module for trade union representatives which can be used and adapted to include the realities of each your respective countries regarding LGBT rights.

PSAC Workshop module: Defending Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Members Against Homophobia in the Workplace

10 January 2017

A Public Service Alliance of Canada workshop for trade union representatives which can be used and adapted to include the realities of each your respective countries regarding LGBT rights.

Rights acquired by LGBTI workers in Latin America

08 January 2017

This booklet was produced in collaboration with LGBTI groups in Latin America and covers the rights acquired by LGBTI workers in Latin American countries including social security rights and labour rights.

LGBTI Public policies in Latin America

08 January 2017

This booklet was produced in collaboration with LGBTI groups in Latin America and covers the advancement of LGBTI policies in Latin America focusing on the actions public authorities can take and on the approval of legislation to guarantee rights

Policy brief EB-148 : Gender Equality, Combating Racism and Xenophobia, and LGBTI Workers

04 October 2016

This policy brief on Gender Equality, Combating Racism and Xenophobia, and LGBTI Workers was produced for the PSI Executive Board EB-148 held at the ILO in Geneva (Switzerland) on 19-20 May 2016. Its objective is to inform EB-148 of activities in gender equality and LGBTI issues since EB-147, that took place in Geneva (Switzerland) in May 2015, and to inform EB-148 of proposed actions for 2016. The brief is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Japanese.

Bisexuality: a trade union issue

02 August 2016

UNISON is one of the UK's largest trade unions, with more than 1.3 million members. UNISON represents all staff who provide public services in both the public and private sectors. UNISON has a long and proud history on equality, recognising that bisexual people face particular issues at work and striving to tackle biphobic prejudice and discrimination. Bisexual people are those who feel attraction to more than one gender. The 2010 Equality Act protects bisexual people (and lesbian, gay and heterosexual people) from discrimination because of their sexual orientation.

Factsheet: Lesbian, gay & bisexual workers' rights

01 August 2016
UNISON logo

This factsheet contains information about the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual workers and sets out a bargaining agenda for branches. It includes information on the law and a negotiating checklist, which is on page 9. In UNISON, lesbian, gay and bisexual members organise together with transgender members. There are many areas of common concern, but important areas of difference. There is a separate UNISON factsheet on Transgender workers rights.

Gender identity: An introductory guide for trade union reps supporting trans members

01 August 2016

This guide is for UNISON workplace reps supporting trans UNISON members at work. It gives a background to what it means to be trans followed by practical advice on common workplace issues.

Out in: UNISON newsletter on LGBT issues

01 August 2016
Out in: UNISON newsletter on LGBT issues

Out in is the newsletter on LGBT equality in UNISON. Out in UNISON is published three times a year,

Factsheet: Transgender workers' rights

01 August 2016
UNISON logo

This factsheet gives information about the rights of transgender people at work and good practice for employers and UNISON branches. It includes information on the law, support for members undergoing gender reassignment and checklists for negotiating for branches. In UNISON, transgender members organise together with lesbian, gay and bisexual members. There are many areas of common concern, but important areas of difference. There is a separate factsheet on Lesbian, gay and bisexual workers rights.

Human rights are not negotiable: support LGBT workers' rights!

05 February 2014
Russian LGBT logo for Olympic Games -  VIXIONS

Educational International (EI) and Public Services International (PSI) join LGBT groups and other human rights defenders in condemning increasing intolerance and attacks on the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people. Governments the world over appear to be abdicating their duty to protect and advance the human rights of all their citizens, including LGBT people.

PCS LGBT History Month - Gay History Chart (to 2007)

22 July 2013
Gay history

Lesbian & gay people have for centuries struggled to be accepted as equal and treated humanely, fairly and with dignity. They have been oppressed, persecuted and killed due to prejudice, intolerance and indifference.

Impact of the Spending Cuts on Public and Local Services, Charities and Organisations for LGBT People

22 July 2013
PCS logo

This research briefing beings to bring together various reports, research and case studies that are beginning to appear, on the severity of central and local governments‟ spending cuts on organisations and support services which lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people use or may use.

Making love a crime: Criminalization of same-sex conduct in Sub-Saharan Africa

09 July 2013
Making love a crime

Thirty-eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa have laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct. Underpinning these laws are deeply entrenched discriminatory social attitudes. This report examines the effects of the criminalization laws on, and discriminatory social attitudes towards, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.

Homophobia, transphobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity

09 July 2013
Homophobia, transphobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity


This report updates the FRA comparative legal analysis of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity first published in June 2008. It presents the situation as it stood at the end of 2009, though information gathered in 2010 has been incorporated to the greatest possible extent.

World of Work meeting (New Zealand)

14 January 2019

On 17 March, previous to the five-day ILGA world conference, a meeting titled "World of Work" will be held on the role of trade unions defending LGBTI rights. Both events will take place in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.

World OutGames: Human Rights Conference (Miami)

18 May 2017

PSI will be attending the upcoming World OutGames Human Rights Conference, a global gathering of internationally respected human rights activists, researchers, legal scholars and organizations, to be held in Miami, USA, 26-28 May 2017.

Freedom at Work Conference

24 May 2016

The Freedom at Work Conference, organized in parallel with Europride 2016 in Amsterdam, will take place on 4-5 August 2016. This world conference is to activate trade union members, staff and officials and (potential) allies for the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgenders and intersex (LGBTI) workers.

PSI Americas 2nd Regional LGBT Committee

27 October 2014
PSI LGBT logo

PSI Americas will hold its second Regional LGBT Committee in Mexico City, in parallel with the 27th ILGA World Conference.

PSI Interamericas LGBT Regional Committee Meeting

08 July 2013
LGBT meeting Brazil

This is the first meeting of the LGBT Committee of ISP-Americas held for the creation of a Committee as specified in “The Promotion of Equal opportunities for LGBT Workers in the Public Sector in Brazil and the Inter-Americas”. The meeting took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil on 27-28 June 2013.

LGBT trade union planning and coordination meeting

08 July 2013
Logo PSI LGBT worldoutgames

This summer, PSI-EI will re-launch joint LGBT activities by organizing a trade union planning and coordination meeting at the International Trade Union House on 30 July in Brussels (5, Boulevard Albert II, 1210 Brussels, 14:00-17:30). This meeting is the day before the Human Rights Conference (HRC) of the Outgames in Antwerp, 31 July-2 August 2013.

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Human Rights Conference (HRC) of the Outgames

08 July 2013
WorldOutgames

The Human Rights Conference (HRC) of the Outgames will be taking place in Antwerp from 31 July-2 August 2013.

World Outgames

24 June 2013
WorldOutgames

WorldOutgames is an international event organized from within the LGBTQ community open for everyone. After Montreal 2006 and Copenhagen 2009, Antwerp is next in line in 2013. The event consist of three main pillars: a human rights conference, a cultural festival and a sports event with in total over 250.000 visitors. Antwerp is also Europe’s capital of sport in 2013. worldOutgames will be the biggest sports event in its programme.

PSI Brasil: Youth project

25 July 2013

The PSI youth project supported by SASK and JHL started in April 2010 and was a project for equal opportunities that focused on young workers, black workers and LGBT. The project then continued focusing more specifically on youth.