Resources & Links
Order this poster
Email enquiries@psa.org.nz with your postal address and number of copies required.
Asia Pacific Out Games Wellington 2011
This will be the biggest gay and lesbian event the capital city has ever hosted and will involve over 1000 people from throughout New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and beyond. The proposed dates are Saturday 12 March to Saturday 19 March 2011.
The official games site can be found here and more information about the conference including registrations can be found here.
Equality through education
The Trades Union Congress (UK) says challenging prejudice against LGBT people means promoting equality through education. The TUC is working with education unions and others and proposes a new approach to changing this.
Go here for more information.
Unison resources
Unison, the UK public sector union, has published a number of resources:
International forum
Since 1998, Education International has been working for the rights of its gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) members. It is now working with its partners and member organizations on formulating recommendations and policies on the subject. Click here
Copenhagen Conference 2009
The World Outgames 2009 Human Rights Conference highlighted the right of every LGBT-person in every countrry to participate fully, equally, and openly in every part of life. Find out more.
Transgender Inquiry
Report of the inquiry by the NZ Human Rights Commission. Click here
What is out@psa?
Out@psa is a network of PSA members who identify as gay, lesbian, intersex, transgender, takataapui, fa'afafine or bisexual (abbreviated to GLITTFAB).
The umbrella term "queer workers" is often used to encompass this diversity.
California's ban on gay marriage struck down
Agreeing that it unfairly targets gay people, an American federal judge has just struck down California’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.
Known as Proposition 8, the ban was passed into state law in 2008 after high-profile and often controversial campaigns for and against, with 52 percent of the vote supporting denying equal marriage rights to same sex couples.
"Proposition 8 cannot survive any level of scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause," wrote San Francisco-based federal judge Vaughan R. Walker in his just-released decision. "Excluding same-sex couples from marriage is simply not rationally related to a legitimate state interest."
Today's decision applies only to California and not to the dozens of other American states that have either constitutional bans or other prohibitions against same-sex marriage. Nor does it impact federal law, which does not recognize such unions. However supporters of marriage for same-sex couples, who include but are not limited to glbt campaigners, hope that California recognising such unions will now put legal and moral pressure on other states.
Gay communities in California have cheered the court decision and are planning celebrations in San Francisco an Los Angeles.
The striking down of the ban may not be permanent though, as it is highly likely today's court decision will be appealed to the US Supreme Court.
New Zealand allows same-sex couples to form legal Civil Unions but has retained laws defining marriage as a union of one man and one woman only.
http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/3/article_9148.php
Latest News
The TUC calls on Government to show genuine commitment to LGBT people Speaking at the TUC's annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) conference in London today (Thursday) TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady will welcome the coalition's early commitment to LGBT equality, but will warn this must be backed up with a real change of heart within Government.
http://www.tuc.org.uk/newsroom/tuc-18147-f0.cfm
Linking with the CTU
Out@psa has strong links to the Out@Work network organised by the Council of Trade Unions. Click here
Out@Work Council meetings are held quarterly in Wellington. Please email the PSA for details if you wish to attend. outatpsa.psa.org.nz
Ian Gordon, based in Auckland, is the PSA rep to the CTU Out@Work Council. Email: Ian.Gordon@psa.org.nz
The aim of out@psa
The aim of the network is to share information, make contacts and organise events or activities based around the common interests of our members.
out@psa also aims to provide advice within the existing PSA structures. For example:
- identifying workplace systems and practices that help to create inclusive and supportive workplaces and services
- building expertise within the PSA to identify and address instances of discrimination, invisibility, lack of inclusiveness and unmet needs in the workplace and provision of public services
- assisting with awareness raising in delegate training.
Get involved
The network has members from all over the country with incredibly varied roles and interests. Members of the network can have different levels of participation:
- be a member of a working group to develop the network or work on a specific issue
- participate around issues that you're particularly interested in
- talk to other members, spread the word, build the network
- receive updates on activities of the working group.
You choose how much or little you want to do!
Email outatpsa@psa.org.nz
History
In April 2005 the PSA Executive Board:
- Endorsed the establishment of a cross-sector PSA network for members and delegates who identify as part of the broad spectrum of "queer", and
- Noted that any form of discrimination is opposed by the PSA in the workplace.
- Out@PSA was first launched to members in the May 2005 Noticeboard.
- The network is still in its early days and could use all the motivated help members are willing to give. We look forward to seeing the network grow and flourish!