Union Leaders Who Identify as LGBTQ
Though LGBTQ identified individuals not particularly well represented in the world of labour unions, the community itself has been a beneficiary of many union organizations in its fight for human rights and equality, particularly in the developed world. Indeed, LGBTQ equality and anti-discrimination policy have been considered employment rights in the trade unions movement for a long time. This could well suggest that LGBTQ activism occurs mostly at the rank and file level rather than the leadership level.
Homophobia at the workplace is a well-documented occurrence. Union organizations have been effective partners with LGBTQ workers in confronting this issue. While the issue remains very prevalent, having LGBTQ individuals in position of union leadership becomes very important to progress and activism is still a requirement.
These activists have utilized the union structure to build solidarity with allies on many issues, but perhaps particularly on the employment and health fronts. Unions were particularly present in the AIDS activism of the 1980s and 1990s. It is documented that the first instance of same-partner employee benefits occurred because of union contract negotiations at The Village Voice newspaper in 1982.
In 1979, the AFL-CIO, the United States' largest federation of labor unions, made its first call for a federal law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) congress in 2014 adopted the motion “to oppose oppression and discrimination on the grounds of ... sexual orientation, gender identity” and to “encourage ITUC affiliates to defend workers suffering such discrimination”. In further endorsed a trade union charter for International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Solidarity, published by the U.K.’s Trades Union Congress.
Unfortunately, there is evidence that LGBTQ business leaders and entrepreneurs have been no better at treating their non-unionized (and often LGBTQ) staff than any other business people (see Mirriam Frank, 'Out in the Union: A Labour History of Queer America, 2014).
We have found several prominent union leaders both today and in history who have identified as LGBTQ. We have included in this list leaders of student union organizations, as many of these individuals have gone on to become political, business, and union leaders later in life.
Finland
- Reijo Paananen, SAK
France
- Bruno Julliard, UNEF (student union body)
Great Britain
- Mark Ashton, mining union activist
- Anthony Asquith, Association of Cinematograph and Television Technicians (ACTT)
- Kezia Dugdale, Unite the Union and the Community Trade Union
- Jeane Freeman, National Union of Students Scotland
- Nia Griffith, National Union of Teachers
- Maureen Le Marinel, Unison
- Wes Streeting, National Union of Students
- Stephen Twigg, National Union of Students
Ireland
- Louie Bennett, Irish Trades Union Congress and Irish Women Workers Union
- Helen Chenevix, Irish Women Workers Union and Irish Trades Union Congress
- Fergal McFerran, Northern Irish student union NUS-USI
- Helena Molony, Irish Women Workers Union and Irish Trades Union Congress
Israel
- Itzik Shmuli, National Union of Israeli Students
Norway
- Anders Hornslien, Worker's Youth League
United States
- Stephen Blair, National Union of Marine Cooks and Stewards
- Harry Hay, several unions
- Mary Kay Henry, Service Employees International Union
- Frank McCormick, California Congress of Industrial Organizations
- Matt McTighe, advisor to several labur unions
- John Perez, California Labor Federation
- Bayard Rustin, Randolph Institute
- Randi Weingarten, American Federation of Teachers
