5 Commitments for LGBT+ Liberation
I’m taking a break from endorsements today because I think it’s important to talk about collective ideas and the commitment I have to making them become a reality.
The ideas below are not mine alone, they are ideas from our collective that I want to communicate my support and leadership for. I have often described my perception of this role as being an enabler of others’ ideas. This is an approach I have taken with my chairing of the LGBT+ Organising Forum (our national committee) where I have purposefully sought collective opinion and will for the changes I’ve helped make.
They are not exhaustive, we obviously have to respond to issues as they arise but let's take a moment to talk about ideas rather than personalities.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on these, you can email me your feedback here.
So, here it goes! 5 commitments from me, Kacey de Groot, your candidate for the LGBT+ Executive Seat:
An LGBT+ Coordinator leading a team in every district
A training programme for allies on our LGBT+ Charter and Framework
A ‘Coming Out’ Guide for LGBT+ Educators
The option for all intersectional and identity networks to have a residential ‘face to face’ meet up
To build a database of allies who will act on and support our campaigns across workplaces, districts, regions and nations
An LGBT+ Coordinator leading a team in every district
We need infrastructure and leadership to develop our ideas and plans at a local level, in our Districts. We have seen a huge increase in the numbers of District LGBT+ Officers in the last two years. Working with the LGBT+ Organising Forum, and with staff, I want to ensure that every district has an LGBT+ Officer.
Training Programme for allies on our LGBT+ Charter and Framework
It cannot be down to LGBT+ members alone to deliver our inclusion, we need our allies in schools and colleges to feel confident and to collectively call for LGBT+ liberation. Our new Charter and our existing LGBT+ framework give us the opportunity to deliver at scale never attempted before. I will work to deliver a training package that develops that confidence and results in LGBT+ inclusion policies and practice.
It is my belief that there IS the will for this to happen from our allies. We now have a stronger array of tools at their disposal. The Charter is particularly strong and very usable. But…if they don’t know how to start the process, it won’t have any impact.
A Coming Out Guide for LGBT+ Educators
We must have a booklet that supports LGBT+ educators to come out. Too often I get emails and messages from LGBT+ members who are told by their SLT that they cannot come out.
We have the conference motion to support the creation of this and it has been in the pipeline for a while. I want this process to focus on and centre the experiences of our members and I want to ensure it embraces the range of our identities across our networks. I would really relish continuing that work with everyone to make it a reality.
Option for all intersectional and identity networks to have a residential
Identity and intersectional networks, such as the Black LGBT+ Network and the Trans and Non-Binary Network, are at the cutting edge of our movement's development. Both of these networks have profoundly impacted the representation of their respective groups and both of these networks have annual residentials.
My own experience as a trans woman attending a residential was read aloud during our ‘Queer Joy’ Conference LGBT+ reception. It was life changing and profound. I want to work on the Executive to agree on funding for the rest of the networks to have that same opportunity.
Build a database of allies who will act on our campaigns
During Pride Season and also during our training programmes, I want to support the idea of building a database of allies that we can call upon to take action on campaigns including writing to their MP’s and attending marches and rallies.
We have exceptional communications to our LGBT+ members. This means we can get targeted support to members through Whatsapp groups, Mobilize and email. We can be responsive and reflexive very quickly when government policy and campaigns are targeting us. Imagine the power if we had active allies who also wanted to join our fight?
