“IUF sisters and brothers: Come out for rights and equality!”
As we celebrate National Coming Out Day, our LGBTI members across the globe need to know that the IUF family sees them, hears them, and is fighting for them 365 days a year. LGBTI workers need our workplaces and our communities to be safe places. Our Unions have the power to speak out against bigots and discrimination at work and beyond, to lobby governments against heinous laws and for equal protection and to prioritize our truth that An Injury to One is an Injury to All!
Over the last few years, even during the brutal pandemic, IUF affiliates have stepped up for their LGBTI members and their families: many innovative trainings, newly negotiated and improved contract language, Pride participation on every continent, resolutions of commitment and support of LGBTI issues and, of course, the growth of LGBTI groups inside many affiliates. While we have increased our activism, there are too many places where rights are being rolled back and violence is increasing. We must accelerate our work and boldly speak out as trade unions who believe in human rights. LGBTI Rights are Human Rights!
We call on all our IUF sisters and brothers to make LGBTI issues a priority, not just during Pride month but all year long. We ask you to be our partner in building inclusive, diverse unions who embrace our LGBTI members and let them know we have their backs every day. We will only end up stronger for this solidarity.
We are so very proud of the work IUF affiliates have done, but we know we must do more to fulfill our mission of ensuring that workers are treated with respect whomever they love and however they identify and express themselves.
