Public Services International and Education International have done a considerable amount of joint work to advance lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in recent years. Trade unions are getting more involved in national and international work to protect LGBT workers’ rights in the same way they take action to protect many groups and individuals who face prejudice and discrimination. LGBT workers’ rights are trade union rights and trade union rights are human rights: everything follows from those two principles.

This summer, PSI-EI will re-launch joint LGBT activities by organizing a trade union planning and coordination meeting at the International Trade Union House on  30 July  in Brussels (5, Boulevard Albert II, 1210 Brussels, 14:00-17:30). This meeting is the day before the Human Rights Conference (HRC) of the Outgames in Antwerp, 31 July-2 August 2013.

The final program of the HRC includes PSI in Panel 3 (The role of “progressives” in diverse changing societies), ABVV-FGBT (Belgium) and other union representatives in Panel 5 (Labour unions and LGBT rights) and several key speakers. The programme of the Conference is below.

PSI will sponsor 10 PSI participants’ registration fees to the Human Rights Conference in Antwerp. Travel and accommodation costs are to be carried by the participant.

Should you wish to register yourself, a registration fee of 180 € applies (the cost has been reduced for trade union participants).

If you wish to participate in the advance LGBT trade union meeting on 30 July in Brussels and/or apply for sponsorship for the Human Rights Conference in Antwerp (31 July-2 August), please send us your reply by 10 July 2013 to rights@world-psi.org.