WHEREAS, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people make up an estimated 10% of the general population and are reflected in all sectors of society, including workplaces and unions; and
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO has 13 million members, 1 million are lesbian and gay (using a conservative 8% number); and
WHEREAS, LGBT people play integral and contributing roles in Union at all levels from worker to shop stead to union official to state and national leadership positions; and
WHEREAS, LGBT people have a proud history of fighting for economic and social justice for all, not solely for their own rights; and
WHEREAS, LGBT people have suffered discrimination, hatred, and ostracism from Hitler’s Holocaust to violent hate crimes today; and
WHEREAS, 41 states have no provisions to protect Americans from discrimination based on sexual orientation in either the workplace or housing; and
WHEREAS, LGBT people suffer discrimination in the workplace that can be directly addressed by the Labor Movement such as domestic partner benefits, firing simply for being lesbian or gay, etc.; and
WHEREAS, the majority of LGBT workers are unorganized, and organizing them into union should address their specifics needs and concerns, help boost the ranks of organized labor and help the Labor Movement better reflect the true diversity of the American workforce; and
WHEREAS, Pride at Work is the national organization of GLBT union members and their friend, representing over 500 members, 33 unions, and 15 regional chapters; and
WHEREAS, members of P@W have been organizing gay people into unions. fostering understanding between the lesbian and gay community and the Labor Movement and leading the Coors Boycott for 20 years; and
WHEREAS, P@W’s specific goals are to:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that SEIU support affiliate of Pride at Work as a constituency group of the AFL-CIO.