05/02/2026
February marks LGBT+ History Month. At SECAmb UNISON Branch, the rights of our LGBT+ members is close to heart.
2026 marks just 36 years since the World Health Organization (WHO) finally remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
For much of the 20th century homosexuality was regarded as wrong, unnatural or sinful. The psychiatric classification was based on stigma and what was regarded as the social norm, not on science. This had a terrible impact. Conversion ‘therapy’, including drugs and electric shock treatment, was used to try to change people’s sexual orientation.
LGBT+ people continue to face discrimination and stigma. In more than 60 countries homosexuality is still banned, and in some countries same-sex relations can be punished with the death penalty.
Last year, in the UK, there were 22,511 recorded hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity recorded by police in the UK. That’s approximately one hate crime towards LGBT+ people reported to the police every 23 minutes. These are only the reported crimes, many go unreported.
Although we have made much improvements, there is still work to be done. SECAmb UNISON Branch continue to advocate and stand by our LGBT+ members both at local and national level.
Remember you have your LGBT+ Officers, Tyler Cook covering East and Declan O’Leary in West for support alongside your local reps and other members of the committee.
