First Openly Gay Prime Minister – Current Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security, Johanna Sigurdardottir, is to become the interim Prime Minister of Iceland until new elections are held (probably) in May this year. Johanna is the world’s first openly gay Prime Minister and the first female PM in Iceland’s history. To read more, click here. Sexual Orientation – often ignored as an EEO issue – The National Equal Opportunities Network looks at the issue of discrimination at the workplace in New Zealand and what is happening in the public sector to try and combat it is looked at. To read more, click here. 66 Countries back United Nations statement on rights of sexual minorities – a statement was read at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on the 18th December 2008 reiterating the universal human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people. New Zealand and Australia were both signatories to the statement but the United States of America and South Africa were not. To read more about this and to learn which 66 countries backed the statement, click here
 UK Rugby League first major sport to join Stonewall programme – Stonewall is a gay right’s group in the UK that has been set up to tackle homophobia and create genuinely inclusive organisations. In November 2008 the Rugby Football League (RFL) became the first major sport to join the programme and will have posters and logos around their grounds and in programmes and fanzines to discourage homophobia. You can read the full article here.
Rainbow Room – One of Parliament’s select committee rooms has been dedicated the Rainbow Room to recognise gay, lesbian and trans-gender New Zealanders and their contribution to society and Parliament as from 22nd September 2008. This designation was supported by members of all parties represented in the Parliament and was seen as an appropriate way to recognise all members of society and the paths they have taken to full citizenship with equal rights. Out@Work Kamp 2005 - The second Out@Work Kamp was held at Raumati Beach, Kapiti Coast on the 17th and 18th March 2005. Attendance improved over the 2003 Kamp and there were a number of successful speakers. Plans were put into place to enable the first Out@Work Council meeting to be held in August 2005 with representatives selected from affiliated unions. A remit was passed at the 2005 Biennial Conference to ensure education on homophobia and discrimination takes place in all CTU structures and that educational material be produced for delegates.
Montreal Declaration - The Declaration of Montreal was endorsed by the participants of the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights, which was held in the framework of the 1st World Outgames in Montreal (Canada) in July 2006. At the 2007 Kamp it was decided to take this declaration to the NZCTU Biennial Conference to get the endorsement of all the affiliated unions. It was unaminously passed at this conference. To read the entire declaration just click on the following link: http://www.declarationofmontreal.org/declaration/
 Out @ Work Kamp 2003 - On Friday 20 and Saturday 21 June 2003 the NZCTU held its first ever Out @ Work Kamp for Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Intersex and Bisexual workers. Click here to read more.Workers Out! Sydney, 2002
A delegation from the CTU Out @ Work network went to the Sydney conference. Click here to read more |