Jan 11 – Unite Supports Civil Marriage For All Campaign
Unite the Union says it fully supports the Equality Rights Group (ERG) in its “Civil Marriage for All” campaign. The union says that “in its constant campaign to promote equality and fairness for all, including actively opposing prejudice and discrimination on grounds of gender, race, ethnic origin, religion, class, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability or caring responsibilities” it wishes to give its fullest support to the ERG. Unite says it “seeks to dissolve the two-tiered system of partnership law and marriage in order for same-sex and heterosexual couples to have a choice of both.”
A statement continued: “There have always been people in every society who are attracted to members of their own sex and there have always been people whose gender identity differs from that into which they were born. The question is: does a healthy society respect difference, or does it try to repress it? We believe in the former and trade unions have, as a fundamental principle, respect for the human rights of all people, hence the important part that unions in the UK (and in many other countries) have played in challenging discriminatory laws, prejudicial behaviour and often violent attacks against LGBT people.
“Prejudice and ignorance remain significant problems, but Unite continues to work with civil society organisations to defeat it both in the workplace, and in wider society, recognising that you cannot have one without the other.
“As such, Unite the Union publicly stands behind the Equality Rights Group campaign of One Civil Marriage Law for All without bias for gender or sexual orientation leading to the amendments contained within the command paper. We do however respect that there may be differences of opinion within our community from minority sectors, and wish to reflect on our collective privilege of living in a free society that enjoys freedom of speech. Whilst we applaud the provision of this platform, we do not share these divisive and prejudiced views that were not acceptable towards the end of the 20thCentury, let alone a modern, western 21st Century state such as ours.”
The Union has also called on all supporters to email Government at the following address; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. “to express their satisfaction with and support for the proposed amendments in no uncertain terms.”
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