CTU Out@Work Network

The CTU Out@Work network was set up in 2000 as the Council of Trade Union's network for lesbian, gay, takataapui, bisexual, intersex, transgender and fa'afafine union members.

Out@Work meets three times a year in Wellington and one meeting a year by video conference, and comprises formal representatives from affiliated unions.  Any interested union members and/or delegates are welcome to attend.  The next Out@Work council meeting is scheduled to occur on the 14th August 2009 and is a Face to Face Meeting.

Each affiliated union to the NZCTU can appoint a representative to the Out@Work Sector Council although a number choose not to.  Each union is responsible for its own selection process and they then notify the Council who their person is.  Nominations are for a two-year period and usually occur after the bi-ennial Out@Work Kamp.   

Current Council.  The majority of Unions have yet to confirm their representative on Council so it is very shortened line up.  We have featured the co-convenors, the CTU Liaison Person and the SFWU representative on this page.  The other two current members have not had time as yet to supply a wee blurb for this page, so just click here to see who they are and to re-visit the people already featured. 

The CTU, in conjunction with the Council, has developed a pamphlet.  You can either click here or on the image above to download the Out@Work pamphlet (pdf doc 278 kb). 

Upcoming Events 

Copenhagen 2009 Conference on Human Rights – This conference is being held from the 27th to the 29th July 2009 and has the theme:  “Love of Freedom – Freedom of Love”.  The overall goal of the conference is to reaffirm and defend the human right of every LGBT person in the world to participate fully, equally and openly in every part of live.  To read more about this conference, click here.

Sydney Mardi Gras – This event is now a two-week event being held from the 21st February to the 7th March 2010 and has the theme:  “History of the World”.  The overall goal of the two-week event is to tell the stories of LGBTI people across the ages and provide a gay take on some of the big moments in history.  The Parade and the Party will now be on two separate nights, with the Parade on the 27th February and the Party the following weekend. 

To read more about Sydney Mardi Gras, click here.

News 

Labour MP Chris Carter welcomes India's Court Ruling - Chris Carter, Labour's spokeperson for Ethnic Affairs, said that the landmark decision by India's court thawill make a huge difference to the lives of gays and lesbians in India.  The ruling stated that the India Penal Code that criminalised homosexuality was illegal under India's democratic constitution.  Article 377 was first constituted in 1861 whilst India was under British rule and stated that 'carnal intercourse against the order of nature' was illegal and has been used by modern india to continue the discrimination against gays and lesbians.  To read more about this article, just click here.

Rainbow Youth elects New Chairperson - Toni Reid is the new chairperson of Rainbow Youth.  She has been involved in Rainbow Youth for 8 years since she was 16 years old.  Prior to taking on this position she has been involved on the Executive for several years and is excited about being in the spotlight more in this, the 20th anniversary of this organisation.  Toni talks to GayNZ.com about why she dedcied to stand for the role, her involvement with Rainbow Youth and what she sees as the top issues for the organisation.  Just click here to read this article.

San Francisco Group Helps Refugees - San Francisco has seen a new organisation setting itself up to help gay refugees have had fled from their native lands where they are being persecuted because of their homosexuality.  In the first instance it will help with free legal services including wide ranging international advocacy.  This group has been set up because often LGBTI refugees often fall between the cracks and it is important that there is support for them in their new country.  The full article is available by clicking here.

Historic Day for Aussie Same-Sex Couples - July 1st is the day that Australia's new law comes into force that recognises same-sex couples for family assistance and social security purposes.  The changes are the result of the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Law - General Law Reform) Act 2008 coming in law. This followed a very strong campaign to the federal government in 2008 and the New South Wales Lobby Group is very pleased to see this finally come into law.  To read what the Lobby Group has to say and breakdown of what the law means, then just click here.

Queen of the Whole Universe sparkled in the Capital - A fantastic evening of fun and glamour was had on Saturday 27th June with the first Queen of Whole Universe to be staged at Wellington.  Feedback from those who attended have all been very positive and that was reflected in the GayNZ.com review of the night.  Mayor Kerry Prendergast wowed them with her sparkley number and the record-breaking number of drag queens on any one stage at one time guaranteed that the night was definitely one to remember.  Just click here to read the review and to watch the video.

"Come 0ut, it's got to be done" - Ian McKellen entreated gays and lesbians to come out of the closet, in an article printed in the Times on 23rd June.  Het alked candidly about what it has meant to him, both professionally as an actor and personally.  McKellen never came out until his late 40s in 1988.  The UK had just passed Section 28, an amendment to the Local Government Act, which stated that Local Authorities and Schools could not promote homosexuality.  “That’s when I made the connection between the personal and the political,” McKellen explained. “Section 28 made gay people second class and it felt right to stand up and say so, to say: 'I’m not ashamed'."  To read more, just  click here.

Cambodian authorities evict HIV- Affected Families - Up to 20 families have been evicted from their homes in the Capital and moved to a tiny settlement on the outskirts that has been set up specifically for this purpose.  This settlement is constructed of green metals sheeting and the residents call it the AIDS village.  Human Rights groups are calling this nothing less than discriminatory and are urging the Government to change its policies in this issue.  To read more about this, just click here.

Bomb Exploded at San Paolo Pride - Twenty one people were injured and five were hospitalised on Sunday 14th June when a bomb exploded at San Paolo Pride in Brazil.   The bomb was thrown into the area where the crowd were gathering at about 9pm.  Shrapnel was scattered when the bomb exploded causing numerous injuries.  It appears that the bomb was thrown because the person was 'bothered by the noise from the parade."  However, there had to be some premeditation to the attack as most people do not have bombs laying around their house in case something annoys them.  Just click here, to find out more about the attack. 

Berry Delivers Stirring Speech - John Berry, the openly gay directory of the office of Personnel Management of the US Government, gave a very stirring and poignant speech to the Department of Justice employees at their Pride celebrations.  Berry is the highest ranking GLBTI official in the Obama administration and you can read what he said here. 

Huge Gay Wedding Protest Planned - A huge protest is planned on 1st August in Sydney, Australia, to highlight the unfairness of the law that does not allow for people of the same gender to marry.  Over 400 couples are attempting a world record as they all share their vows, even though the ceremony will not be legally recognised.  The organisers are hoping that this will be a turning point in the campaign with a lot of ground support coming out of this protest.  To read more about it, just click here. 

The Same-Sex Future - NYBooks has an interesting piece on the issue of recognition of same sex marriages/civil unions written by David Cole.  He traces the history of the fight for equal rights and looks at how the tide appears to be slowly turning in favour of this.  He looks mainly at the upcoming change in New York but does look at the wider ramifications.  Click here to read the whole article.

Dunedin Schools Quizzed on Gay Ball - 12 school principals were asked in Dunedin by The Star what their school policy was on bringing a same-sex partner to the School Ball.  Most of the principals stated that they had no specific policy but Taieri College had a policy encouraging diversity so students can bring whoever they like to the school ball.   Rainbow Youth Executive Director Tim Hamilton was concerned about schools that no policy as there tended to be no awareness that LGBT students existed.  One students spoken to by The Star had ended up taking a female friend with him as he had been specifically told by three different teachers that he should not bring a male partner.  Click here to read more about this issue.

Tamihere stirs anti-gay hate over HIV accused - Talkback Host John Tamihere spent much of his talk-back show on 16th June ranting about the man who is accused of spreading HIV through knowingly having sex with multiple partners of both genders.  He decided that the only reason that the man got name suppression was because he was gay and that if the guy had been heterosexual his name would have been spread all over the place.  He also had Leo Molloy, a high-profile Auckland Restauranter with him who thought someone spreading HIV is only a problem when it is outside of the gay community.  GayNZ received numerous complaints but have so far had no comment from RadioLive, the broadcaster who hosts John Tamihere.  To read more about this, just  click here.

Australia's Anti-Discrimination Board Updholds Red Cross's right to ban gay men from giving blood - Blood ban campaigner, Michael Cain, will continue his fight to allow gay men to donate blood in Australia even though the Anti-Discrimination Board has upheld the right to Red Cross to continue to refuse to accept blood from gay men.  It did agree with Cain that not all gay men are involved in risky sexual behaviours as indicated by the Red Cross but accepted their right to ban blood based on the worse case scenario.   Michael Cain said “I am pleased the Tribunal has agreed with my fundamental claim that there are monogamous, safe, gay men who have a lower HIV risk than some of the straight people who can currently give blood,” but he was disappointed that they were still not allowed to give blood.  To read more about this story, just click here.

Obama says June is Pride Month - In a historical statement on 1st June, these words were said:  "I Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists."  In this unprecedented move by a President of the United States, a challenge has been laid down to the US Congress to work with the community to fight prejudism.  To read more, just click here.  

Earlier Events

Out@Work Kamp 2009 - The CTU Out@Work Kamp was held on the 14th and 15th May in Raumati.  It was a very successful Kamp with the highest number of participants to attend since the first Kamp in 2003.  The Kamp began on Thursday with introductions, course outline and expectations.  It was clear from the onset that the participants were there to network and to share/build on their knowledge.  Throughout the two days people worked really well together and a number of guest speakers added to the conference.  Speakers included Joy Liddicoat from the Human Rights Commission, Bill Bevan from the Whiteria Community Law Centre, Kapiti District Counsellor Lyndy McIntyre and Bill Hastings, Chief Censor at the Film and Literature Classification.   Due to the House sitting in urgency Kevin Hague from the Greens and Grant Robertson from Labour were unable to attend.  Kevin sent through his speech which was read out by one of the facilitators and is attached here (18 kb pdf file) if you are interested.  Click on the picture of Kamp to see more photos.

Out@Work Kamp 2007 - The 3rd Out@Work camp was held on the 19th and 20th April at the Wainuiomata Outdoor Education Centre in Wellington.  About 40 participants came to the event, including Tim Barnett, MP for Christchurch Central and Senior Whip for the Labour Party.  Out of this very successful kamp a set of goals were developed as a workplan for the Out@Work Council as well as a recommendation to the NZCTU Conference for the Montreal Declaration to be endorsed.  You can read this declaration here.

Speech to TUC Stamping out Conference  - Carol Beaumont (CTU Secretary at the time) was a keynote speaker to the UK TUC Stamping Out Homophobia conference on 6 Feb 2006. You can read Carol's speech here.

Unions LGBTI Pages and Other Useful Links

Just click on the name of the Union to access their GLBTI pages.

    PPTA                  NZEI                PSA

Making schools safe for people of every sexuality is the booklet produced by the Post Primary Teachers Association and is available by clicking here.

Rainbow Youth is an Auckland-based queer organisation run by youth for youth.  Keep up to date with what is happening at Rainbow Youth by clicking here.

Euro-Letter is the ILGA-Europe’s monthly electronic LGBT political and legal news bulletin.  Read the most recent copies here.

The Trade Union Congress in the UK has a lot of good information on their website.  To go directly to their Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights page,  click here.   To read there latest LGBT Euwality Newsletter then click here.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission is an excellent web site that links LGBTI rights and human rights.  Click here to access this web page.

The Declaration of Montreal was endorsed by the participants of the International Conference on LGBTI Human Rights and by the NZCTU at its 2007 Biennial Confeence.  Click here to read more about this.

Stonewall Charity is a fantastic site with a lot of useful resources.  Click here to view their site.

Resources

To Be Who I Am (The Human Rights Commission transgender enquiry - 1.6 mb)

About Us:  Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and the Law in New Zealand (MSD and Whitireia Community Law Centre - 2 mb PDF File)

Pre-employment guidelines (EEO - 630 kb PDF file)

Homophobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the EU Member States: Part II - The Social Situation (EU Fundamental Rights Agency Report - web link) 

The A-Z of Employment (Human Rights Comission - pdf file) is a resource for employers and employees looking at getting a job. 

Religion and Sexual Orientation - How to Manage Workplace Tension (Stonewall Publication - web link to pdf file)

Archived Articles - Did you miss an article and really wanted to read about it?  Then click here for our archived articles.

Contacts

For more information about Out@Work contact convenors -  Ian Gordon and Karena Brown