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Motions Document (Revised) 24 – 26 April 2009 Nottingham Britannia Hotel, Nottingham

CD4 If you need this document in another format contact NUS on 0871 221 8221 or email [email protected] 1

Zone 100: Steering Committee Zone 101 102 103

Technical Amendments to the Standing Orders Updates to the Standing Orders following Adoption of New NUS Constitution LGBT Campaign Reform Motion

Zone 200: Strong & Active Unions Zone 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219

Feminism and the Fight for LGBT Liberation Networking LGBT Societies in FE and HE FE Students have Pride Too! For an Inclusive, Representative and Actively Diverse Campaign Collectivist Co-operatives: For Modern Grassroots Representation NUS LGBT Community Website NUS Policy: Inclusion not Discrimination Putting the LGBT into FE Any Queeries? Representing the Grand Olde Queens of Yore! Representing Mature Students in our Campaign! We all Bat for the Same Team! Getting Abuse out of Our Sports & Societies Flirt! An Appalling Event Promoted by NUSSL LGBT Issues are Gender Issues Are Disability Issues are Ethnicity Issues! For a Fighting, Feminist Campaign! Training and Campaigning to Win! Student Club Nights are for ALL Students, not Just the Straight and Cisgendered Ones! Defending LGBT-only Policy Making Support LGBT Students and Officers in FE Tackling Prejudice in Our Student Media

Zone 300: Student Rights & Welfare Zone 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316

Say NO to 0870! LGBT – Suicide and Self Harm Beauty is not a Contest! LGBT Students and their Sexual Health A Sensible Drugs Policy – We Need Evidence-Based, Fair and Compassionate Drugs Policy Now! LGBT & Mental Health Fighting for Equality in Healthcare Opposing ‘Miss’ Pageants in Universities and FE Colleges Self-insemination: A Right to Choose Putting GNT into FE Fighting Discrimination – Stop the BNP Getting Ride of Heterosexism in Medical Care Liberating Drag Kings A National Campaign for ALL LGBT Students No Platform for Fascists Only Promoting Our Protections

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317 318 319 320

Equality for LGBT Parents on Maternity and Paternity Rights Trans Equality Is Important A Word of Advice for Richard Littlejohn ID Cards - Victimising Trans People

Zone 400: Society & Citizenship Zone 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421

Rolling Back Heterosexual Patriarchy! Love Without Borders: Expanding the Campaign LGBT-phobia and the Eastern Bloc BDSM Rights: An LGBT Issue Gaydar: A Catalogue of Appalling Objectification Organ Donation Ban No Discrimination Save Gaza Accurate Representations of LGBT People: Emmerdale Farm Beware! Hands Off Our Bits! The DUP: Representational Failures who are Unfit for Government Stop the BNP Get the Vote Out – Beat the BNP at the Ballot Box Identity Politics with Pride Pride is a Protest Unlocking Trans Healthcare Why we are Part of NUS LGBT All Hail the Icelandic Chief Lesbian! Civil Partnerships are Civil LGBT and Homophobia in Africa The Home Office – A Beacon of Homophobia? Donation Not Discrimination

Zone 500: Education Zone 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512

Academy Schools: Education is a Right not a Doctrine No Compromise on Free Education Fitness to Study Kicking McDonald’s out of Education Re-igniting the Fight for our Education Burgess Report – Accrediting the Achievements of our Activists Liberating the Curriculum Gender Identities and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Bin the Broke and Broken Funding System Trans Awareness in our Education Against Means Testing A Safer Future for LGBT Youth

Zone 600: Emergency Motions (if any) The deadline for the submission of Emergency Motions is 10 a.m. on the second day of LGBT Conference. Early submission by email is encouraged if possible, to ensure the widest accessibility. Inaccessible motions will be ruled out of order.

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Rulings of Steering Committee No Motions have been ruled out of order this year. If your motion is not below (remember submitters are anonymous), please contact [email protected] and we shall investigate. The Motions Document was formally revised on Tuesday 24 March to include four motions which were correctly submitted by not reflected in the original draft (Motions 219, 320, 421 and 512). In addition, the Resolves section of motion 511 was included. Some Motions have been moved Zones, so as to facilitate the debate at Conference: 1. Motion 203 was also submitted separately into Society & Citizenship, but it has been decided to leave it in Strong & Active. A motion submitted by a student at the Royal Veterinary College was ruled out of order as the RVC is not affiliate to the NUS. The motion was submitted by numerous submitters, so is retained within the Motions list.

Amendments to Motions Each Constituent Member and each Individual Member (who self-defines as LGBT) may submit one amendment of not more than 300 words into each of the ordinary zones (Education; Student Rights & Welfare; Strong & Active Unions; Society & Citizenship). An amendment may be “sprinkled” across more than one motion in a zone, but you must clearly identify which motion your amendment is seeking to amend. You may also submit one amendment into the Steering Committee Zone. If your amendment contains rule changes, these are exempt from the word limit of 300 words per amendment. This amendment may “sprinkle” across more than one motion if you so wish, provided you clearly identify which motions you seek to amend. Deadline for all amendments is 5 p.m. Monday 6 April 2009 sharp. A drafting commission will be held on Wednesday 8 April 2009. If you have submitted a motion or an amendment, you MUST attend the drafting commission or NOMINATE A PROXY to attend. Otherwise you motion or amendment will be DELETED. Please refer to the Notice of Drafting Commission when it is published online. Inter-relationships There are a number of inter-relationships between motions, most notably between the Reform motion (Number 103) and motions in the Strong & Active Zone relating to how the campaign democracy and representation works. As a result, the debate at Conference will see most of the inter-related text moved into the Steering Committee Zone, creating a new “Reform Zone” which will have dedicated time on the Order Paper.

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Steering Committee will publish in advance of the Amendments Deadline and the Drafting Commissions a draft proposal for groupings of motions which will be drafted together to form the “composite motions” at the Drafting Commission. This will only be a guide and is intended to ready ourselves and yourselves for the Drafting Commission which is happening within only a matter of hours after the close of Amendments. Online Resources for Conference All details and official Conference Documents will be located at: www.officeronline.co.uk//events/nationalevents/275956.aspx

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Zone 100: Steering Committee Zone Motion Number: 101 Motion Heading: Technical Amendments to the Standing Orders Conference Believes: 1. Previous drafting errors need to be amended in the Standing Orders to bring our rules into line with our practices. 2. These amendments, which are tabled by the Steering Committee, will not alter our current practices, simply keeps our rules up-to-date. Conference Resolves: 1. To amend Standing Order 3.3(c) adding new paragraph “Observers appointed by Constituent Members and Area Organisations” 2. To delete Standing Order 3.3(c)(vi) 3. To amend Standing Order 3.3(d) adding new paragraph “Members of the Steering Committee, who may speak on matters related to the procedures and rules of the Conference, Conference administration, proposed amendments to the Standing Orders and any other matter placed up them by the Standing Orders or policy resolution of Conference, or by duties delegated to them.” 4. To amend Standing Order 3.12 such that “m” becomes “xiii” in the Parts Procedure section and a new clause is inserted as follows “Parts – procedural motion (xiii) – shall be moved, provided there are twenty-five delegates wishing to hear the case for the parts immediately before the Summation speech on a motion or amendment only.” 5. To add to Standing Order 3.12 “Quorum for all full sessions of the Conference shall be 20% of registered delegates. There shall be no quorum in caucuses or when the Conference is not in full session.” 6. To amend Standing Order 4.3(ii) such that it reads “...shall elect a Lesbian, Bisexual or Trans Woman...” Motion Number: 102 Motion Heading: Updates to the Standing Orders following adoption of new NUS Constitution. Conference Believes: 1. Following the ratification of the new NUS Constitution and the approval of the Transitional Arrangements at the National Extraordinary Conference in January 2009, the LGBT Campaign needs to update its Standing Orders to reflect any changes. 2. The Steering Committee tables this motion to simply reflect the new NUS Constitution, and is not proposing any changes outside of simply updating our rules to comply with the new NUS Constitution. 3. The new NUS Constitution comes into effect on 1 July 2009, and that is when these changes should be timed to come into effect, not at the close of this Conference. Conference Resolves:

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1. To amend Standing Order 2 such that “positive discrimination” is replaced with “positive action” wherever it occurs. 2. To amend Standing Order 2 such that “National Secretary” is replaced with “LGBT Officers or nominee of the National President, as appropriate”. 3. Replace “Elections Committee” with “Chief Returning Officer, or appointed agent” throughout the Standing Orders. 4. Replace “National Executive Committee” with “National Executive Council” throughout the Standing Orders. 5. To replace Standing Order 3.3(d)(ii) with “Members of the Board of Trustees or the Democratic Procedures Committee, who may speak on matters relating to their work.” 6. Delete Standing Order 4.2 (this will be decided by another motion) 7. These amendments shall come into force on 1 July 2009.

Motion Number: 103 Motion Heading: LGBT Campaign Reform Motion Conference Believes: 1. Policy passed by Conference 2008 instructed the Committee to create a Reform Committee and to elect members to it to carry out a reform process, brining at least two options back to Conference 2009 for discussion. 2. Steering Committee was asked to submit this motion as the Committee and the Reform Committee cannot do so under Standing Orders. Conference Further Believes: 1. 2. 3.

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5. 6. 7.

The national LGBT committee extensively discussed the reform process at NUS LGBT committee training 2008 The result of this discussion was a strategy for the reform process that was unanimously approved at NUS LGBT committee This strategy included providing more than 2 options for the new standing orders by using a “basket” system to discuss multiple options within each section of the new standing orders The national LGBT committee elected a 9 person Reform Committee to carry out a reform process; a mixture of Officers, committee members and LGBT students This committee led face-to-face consultation at the 6 Activist Training Days back in November, hearing the views of over 70 LGBT students The committee also produced an online consultation survey that received the views and opinions of over 170 LGBT students Through this consultation the Reform Committee produced the various standing orders options that form the resolves of this motion

Conference Resolves: Text within a box does not form part of the motion. It is here to guide you through the motion, explain what the current rules are and how debate will be handled at the Conference.

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To amend the Standing Orders as follows: PART 1 – Membership and Purpose (changes to Standing Order 2) The status quo is that students (Individual Members of NUS) who self-define themselves as being lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans are members of the campaign and can participate in Conference. No one else may participate. Membership of the Campaign 1. Individual Members who self-identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and/or Trans, or who self-define as experiencing homophobia, biphobia and/or transphobia for not fitting in to heteronormative society. 2. To ADD: “Undecided/Questioning” to clause 1 (above). 3. To ADD: “Queer” to clause 1 (above). 4. That “Queer” does not include heterosexual, non-trans people. 5. To ADD: “Asexual” to clause 1 (above). 6. To ADD: “and all Individual Members who support the liberation of LGBT people” to clause 1 (above). LGBT may be replaced depending on the acronym adopted once the Campaign Name is agreed. The status quo is that the campaign is called the “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans Campaign” or “LGBT” for short. Name of the Campaign 1. Shall be the “NUS LGBTQ Campaign” 2. Shall be the “NUS LGBTA Campaign” 3. Shall be the “NUS LGBTQA Campaign” 4. Shall be the “NUS Queer Campaign” 5. Shall be the “NUS MSAGI Campaign”, which stands for Minority Sexuality and Gender Identity. This next section proposes the creation of a Mission Statement, to sum up exactly what the Campaign is here for. Mission Statement for Adoption 1. To adopt “The Campaign is the national student movement from the liberation of LGBT people. We fight for the rights of LGBT students, support LGBT students in universities and colleges, and provide a national voice on LGBT issues, both within NUS and wider society.” and that ‘LGBT’ may change subject to agreement of the Campaign Name’s acronymn. PART 2 – Conference Arrangements (amends Standing Order 3)

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The status quo is that only self-defining lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans students can attend the LGBT Conference. If Clause 15 was approved, any student could attend the Conference; If Clause 17 was approved, then this would be further restricted to “any student” only being eligible to be an Observer to the Conference. At present, Observers have full speaking rights, so approving Clause 18 would restrict non-LGBT Observers’ rights. Eligibility to Attend Conference 1. Those eligible to come to Conference as either a voting Delegate or an Observer are: 2. Our membership as agreed in Part 1 (above); or 3. Any Individual Member of the NUS. 4. Those eligible to come to Conference only as an Observer are: 5. Any Individual Member of the NUS. 6. Such Observers who do not self-define into the Membership of the Campaign shall have no speaking rights. The status quo is that the campaign operates four delegate places for each students’ union (Constituent Member), where two of the places are Women’s Places (i.e. women only) and two of the places are Open Places (i.e. open to anyone) Delegation Size 1. A Constituent Member shall be allocated a basic delegate entitlement of two (2) to six (6) delegates, which shall be based on student numbers at that Constituent Member, using the NUS National Conference formula appropriately scaled. 2. Half of the basic delegate entitlement of a Constituent Member shall be delegate places reserved for Women. For the avoidance of doubt, only whole integers and not fractions shall be reserved for Women (e.g. a delegation of 5 would require 2 reserved for Women, not 3). The status quo is that the campaign does not have a rule reserving a place for Trans delegates. If Clause 21 was approved, any reserved Women’s Places would be open to Trans delegates too. If Clause 22 is approved, a students’ union would be allowed an extra delegate place, on top of their basic entitlement. It would be reserved solely for Trans. Similarly for Clause 23 for Black delegates.

Trans and Black Places 1. Reserved places for Women shall also be open to Trans delegates. 2. Constituent Members with four (4) to six (6) as a basic delegate entitlement shall be allowed an extra delegate place, in addition to their basic delegate entitlement, which shall be solely reserved for Trans delegates.

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3. Constituent Members with four (4) to six (6) as a basic delegate entitlement shall be allowed an extra delegate place, in addition to their basic delegate entitlement, which shall be solely reserve for Black delegates. The status quo is that the campaign does not set down any rules for the appointment of delegates, however, when we do receive challenges, we follow the procedure that Steering Committee contacts their elected LGBT representatives at that students’ union, which is usually an LGBT officer or the president of an LGBT society. We do not contact, as the first resort, a selfdefining sabbatical officer until we have exhausted the LGBT student route first. Selecting a Delegation 1. Delegates shall be selected by each Constituent Member using the local Constituent Member’s own procedures. 2. Delegates shall be selected by each Constituent Member by an election where only a. Members of the Campaign at that Constituent Member may vote as agreed in Part 1 (above). b. Members of the Campaign and those who support the liberation of LGBT people at that Constituent Member may vote as agreed in Part 1 (above). The status quo is that the campaign allows students’ unions and individual selfdefining students (who do not have to be destined to attend the Conference, but only eligible to attend) can submit motions (policy) to Conference, one 500 word motion to each Zone – there are four zones, so effectively four motions each. Submission of Proposed Policy to Conference 1. Policy motions for the Conference may be submitted by: a. Recognised LGBT Societies, committees or groups that are part of a Constituent Member. b. Individual Members of the NUS, who may not be eligible to attend the Conference c. Individual Members are not permitted to submit policy. d. The Campaign’s Committee shall be treated as a single body able to submit policy to Conference. e. Members of the National Executive of the NUS shall not be able to submit policy (this does not apply to LGBT Officers) f. Members of the National Executive of the NUS (who self-define) shall be able to submit policy (regardless of the decision on Individual Members submitting policy) 2. A submitter of policy may submit up to two motions and two amendments in each Zone. 3. A submitter of policy may submit up to three motions and three amendments in each Zone. 4. There shall be no limit on how many motions and amendments a submitter may submit into a Zone.

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The status quo is that the campaign allows any delegate or observer to the Conference to speak on a motion or amendment, and there are no restrictions on the number of speeches a person can make during one debate. The summation speech is the final “summing up” at the end of a debate before the final vote. Procedure for Debating Policy at Conference 1. A delegate or observer with speaking rights may only speak on each motion or amendment once. 2. If no person with speaking rights wants to speak for (or against) a motion or an amendment, the Chair shall move to a vote, without summation immediately. 3. If no person with speaking rights wants to speak for (or against) a motion or an amendment, a person who has already spoken in the debate shall be allowed to speak, but only if the debate would be balanced by such an action. 4. Summation speeches on an amendment or a motion shall be assigned as free speeches. 5. Summation speeches on a motion shall be assigned at the Drafting Commission and the passing of an amendment to the motion shall not afford the proposer of the amendment the right of property on the Summation speech on the motion. The status quo is that the order of Zones is decided by an all-delegate ballot at Conference, however, the motions within each zone are decided by the Drafting Commission meeting – a meeting which drafts the final motions together and it comprises representatives of everyone who has submitted policy to the Conference. There is no limit on Proxies at present. If a motion or amendment is not “represented” at the Drafting Commission it is deleted at present.

Drafting Commissions (also known as the ‘composite’) 1. The priority of motions (the order of debate happening) within a Zone shall be decided at the Conference by a ballot of all voting delegates. 2. To confirm the ability of submitters of motions of amendments to nominate a Proxy to represent them at the Drafting Commission; provided that: a. Each person present at the Drafting Commission may only have five (5) proxies; or b. Each person present at the Drafting Commission may only have one (1) proxy. 3. If the submitter of a motion or amendment or the duly nominated Proxy are not present at the Drafting Commission, the motion shall become the property of the Steering Committee and shall automatically fall to the bottom of the Zone debate. If this happens to more than one motion, the motion with the greater number of initial proposers shall be higher. If this is the same for more than one motion, the motions shall be ranked with the greater word count higher. (partly subject to the decision on priority ballots at Conference to determine order of motions in a Zone).

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PART 3 – Activist Training Days (a new Standing Order will be created) 1. The Campaign shall host and run Activist Training Days, in line with policy determined by the Conference. Any Individual Member of NUS may attend an ATD, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. 2. Activist Training Days shall occur in the first semester of each academic year. 3. The National Committee shall determine a manner of appointment for Regional Assistants at ATD, who shall assist the National Committee members that have been assigned to that Region. PART 4 – Leadership (amends Standing Order 4) The status quo is that the campaign has two “part-time” LGBT Officers, one Open Place and one Women’s Place. The Women’s Place officer is elected by a women-only ballot during women’s caucus. The campaign does not operate job-shares for the Officers. Job shares are open to volunteer National Committee members and to Steering Committee members National Officers, whose final titles are determined by a previous clause on Campaign Name &c. 1. There shall be: a. Two part-time Officers, both Open Place b. One full-time Officer c. One full-time Officer, open to a job-share of two. 2. The Officers shall be elected by: a. By the full Conference only (for 41a, b, c but not status quo) b. The Women’s Place Officer, shall be called the ‘Women’s Officer’ and elected by the Women’s Caucus. c. The Women’s Place Officer shall be elected by the full Conference, but only Women may stand, though all delegates can vote. The new NUS Constitution provides for the LGBT Campaign to have two representatives on the new National Executive Council. Depending on how you vote for the Officer/s to be constituted, will depend on how the Campaign can be represented on the NEC. National Executive Representation 1. No individual shall serve more than two terms as a National Officer. 2. If there are two National Officers, ignoring job-shares, both shall be voting members of the National Executive. 3. If there is one full-time Officer, the Officer shall be a voting member of the National Executive, and the second National Executive place shall be elected by the full Conference from those elected to the National Committee, and are willing to stand. 4. If there is one full-time Officer and it is a job-share: a. Both shall share one vote at the National Executive and the Conference shall elected a second National Executive member from elected National Committee members; or

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a. Both shall hold separate votes at the National Executive, filling the two spaces available for the Campaign. The status quo is that the campaign holds the following Caucuses, which are autonomous groups within the Campaign: Women’s, Bisexual, Black, Disabled, Further Education and Trans. Current Standing Orders allow any delegate or observer (before the Conference) to request that Steering Committee allocates time on the agenda of Conference for additional Caucuses. It is then at the discretion of Steering whether this can be done. In 2008 the Campaign also hosted Queer, Caring Responsibilities and Jewish Caucuses. Caucuses at Conference (autonomous groups within the Campaign) 1. The following Caucuses shall be held during the Conference for those members of the Conference who self-define or who are members of that Caucus: a. Women’s Caucus b. Bisexual Caucus c. Black Caucus d. Disabled Caucus e. Further Education Caucus f. Trans Caucus g. Queer Caucus 2. To hold the following Caucuses at the Conference: a. Gay Men’s Caucus b. Mature Students’ Caucus c. International Students’ Caucus d. Faith Caucuses (with provision to hold simultaneous Caucuses for different faiths and religions) e. Asexual Caucus The Caucus Representatives can only be elected by a Caucus, so your decisions on which Caucuses are held will determine whether you then wish to add a Rep from some of those Caucuses onto the National Committee. Membership of the National Committee 1. To ADD: a second place on the Committee for Further Education 2. To ADD: a second place on the Committee for Trans 3. To ADD: a place on the Committee elected by the Queer Caucus 4. To ADD: a place on the Committee elected by the Gay Men’s Caucus 5. To ADD: a place on the Committee elected by the Mature Students’ Caucus 6. To ADD: a place on the Committee elected by the International Students’ Caucus 7. To ADD: a place on the Committee elected by the Asexual Caucus 8. No individual may serve more than two terms on the National Committee. For the avoidance of doubt, this rule does not apply to the Officers, where a separate rule is in force. PART 5 – The Steering Committee (amends Standing Order 5)

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The status quo is that the Steering Committee can do two one year terms. Any member of the Campaign is eligible to stand for election to Steering Committee at present and Steering Committee is eligible to stand for National Committee too. Membership and Terms of the Steering Committee 1. Elected members to the Steering Committee shall serve two-year terms. Elections shall be staggered to promote continuity. 2. Members of the Steering Committee shall only serve two terms on the Steering Committee, and whilst they are a member of the Steering Committee shall not be eligible for election to the National Committee or as a delegate/observer of the Conference. 3. Officers are not eligible for election to the Steering Committee. Conference further resolves to: 1.

Mandate the Rules Revision Committee and its successor (the Democratic Procedures Committee) in the new NUS Constitution to bring forward any NUS constitutional changes as required following the amendments approved to our own Standing Orders (this will only be required if we change the name of the Campaign or in some way make policy which would affect the new NUS Constitution which comes into effect on 1 July 2009)

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Zone 200: Strong & Active Unions Zone Motion Number: 201 Motion Heading: Feminism and the Fight for LGBT Liberation Conference Believes: 1. Feminism is a central pillar of our Campaign as its mission is to campaign for equality between the genders. 2. Gay men particularly feel isolated from feminism: not through their naivety but because men are shackled by patriarchy, which discriminates against men too! Conference Further Believes: 1. Feminists and pro-feminists annually organize rallies, campaigns and awareness of issues, which are part of building a new, equal society. 2. Often women, like many other groups, need their own space to organize and campaign, for instance events such as Reclaim the Night London, which is a women-only march, followed by a mixed rally. 3. Julie Bindle, a famous feminist and lesbian rights campaigner has made some horrendous comments regarding Trans people. This resulted in Conference 2008 passing policy to ban members of the LGBT Campaign from sharing a platform with Bindle. 4. Our quarrel with Julie Bindle must not dilute our support for feminist events, especially the Reclaim the Night marches and rallies, which are held across the country (and the world). Conference Resolves: 1. To support the Reclaim the Night marches and rallies and for LGBT Campaign members to attend them where possible. 2. To write to organizers of any event that the LGBT Campaign supports and wishes to attend of our policy opposing Julie Bindle’s hateful comments to Trans people. 3. To organize a Feminist Academy for LBT Women in the first term as directed by the Committee in consultation with our Sisters in the Women’s Campaign Motion Number: 202 Motion Heading: Networking LGBT Societies in FE and HE Conference Believes: 1. The existence of LGBT societies in FE and HE Student Unions is often vitally important to support students during their time at college or University. 2. LGBT societies provide a vital outlet through campaigning activity, networking, support and social activity. 3. LGBT societies right across the UK are often severely under-funded this can restrict their ability to carry out the activities they may wish to. 4. FE Student Unions are often the most severely restricted in their ability to support their work financially. 5. LGBT societies should be supported financially wherever possible.

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6. It is important that despite financial restrictions, campaign activity within societies can still be prioritised. 7. Collaborations between societies from institutions in the same city, region or location is a great way of strengthening campaigns and supporting the work of societies – across Further and Higher Education. Conference Resolves: 1. To support LGBT societies in FE and HE to come together to support one another, particularly those that are in the same city or region. 2. To encourage LGBT societies to think about how they can join together to support one another in campaigning activity. 3. For LGBT societies to look at where they can share costs, so that they are able to ensure more money can be saved to be spent on activity to benefit students through the year. Motion Number: 203 Motion Heading: FE students have Pride too Conference believes: 1. National Student Pride was held in Brighton, in March this year, in association with NUS LGBT. 2. People under 18 were not allowed to attend any part of Student Pride, not even the speakers’ event or bookreadings in the afternoon. 3. NUS represents 4.3million number of FE students, of which 500,000 are under 18. 4. This over 18 only policy prevents involvement of many FE students in National Student Pride. Conference further believes: 1. The over 18 age policy was not advertised on the Student Pride website, where people could buy their tickets in advance. 2. National Student Pride was publicised to HE students and institutions far more than to FE students and institutions, further decreasing the involvement of FE students. 3. NUS LGBT Officers were unable to attend many planning meetings for National Student Pride, preventing the views and policy of NUS LGBT from being represented. Conference resolves: 1. To ensure at least part of National Student Pride is open to those under 18 in future, if possible all of National Student Pride. 2. To advertise clearly, in advance, and in ticket purchasing procedures, which parts of National Student Pride are subject to age restriction. 3. To encourage National Student Pride to have at least one FE student on the planning committee. 4. To advertise and publicise National Student Pride to FE students as well as HE students.

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5. To mandate at least one NUS LGBT Officer to attend National Student Pride planning meetings to represent the views of NUS LGBT, and to ensure accessibility and participation. 6. To mandate a member of NUS LGBT Committee to attend National Student Pride planning meetings if the NUS LGBT Officers are unable to do so. 7. To withdraw NUS LGBT’s support for National Student Pride, and to not work “in association with” National Student Pride, if Conference Resolves 1 & 2 are not met. 8. To withdraw NUS LGBT’s support for National Student Pride, and to not work “in association with” National Student Pride, if there are no FE students on the National Student Pride planning committee. Motion Number: 204 Motion Heading: For an Inclusive, Representative and actively Diverse Campaign Conference Believes 1. That diversity, inclusion and solid representation of our students should be demonstrated at both summer Conference and at a grassroots level; 2. That in the past, the campaign has suffered by Summer Conference not being representative of who we are as LGBT students, such as with a disproportionate number of self-defining men to self-defining women on Conference floor; 3. That with the policy change to assign two of the Conference delegate places as women’s places and two as open places for each institution, the participation of self-defining women has greatly increased and Conference floor as been much more representative of LGBT students; 4. That this change of policy was a great success and a real achievement towards creating a representative and inclusive campaign; 5. That it is now time to turn our attention to the disproportionate number of ethnic minority students who attend Conference; 6. That to be a representative campaign, we must not only give a voice to ethnic minority students, but must actively encourage their participation in the same way we have done for other groups in the past; 7. That considering the success of the above mentioned policy, that a similar approach should be taken to ensure that future Conferences are as diverse as we the students are; 8. That a disproportionately low participation of ethnic minority students is also demonstrated at regional events, activist training days and within HE and FE LGBT organisations themselves; 9. That resources, such as workshops and literature on the subject of the needs of ethnic minority students are few and far between. 10.That to create a more inclusive and representative campaign, diversity must be encouraged from a grass roots level upwards. Conference Further Believes 1. That ethnic minority LGBT students face discrimination from both their own ethnic communities and from the LGBT community. Conference Resolves

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1. To alter the current system of delegate places for each constituent member as follows: Where all four places are filled but no ethnic minority students are present, then the institution may send one more delegate who is of an ethnic minority. 2. To create (where not already in existence) and make widely available, resources for FE and HE organisations to be more inclusive of ethnic minority students in their campaigns. 3. To run workshops at activist training days that focus on increasing the participation of ethnic minority students and meeting their needs. 4. To actively seek feedback from ethnic minority LGBT students on their needs and experiences. 5. To mandate the Black Students Representative to work in partnership with the Black Students Campaign to promote inclusion of ethnic minority LGBT students in both the Black and LGBT Campaigns. 6. To find and work with other organisations currently supporting the needs of ethnic minority LGBT communities. 7. To hold Black LGBT events and days during LGBT History Month. Motion Number: 205 Motion Heading: Collectivist Co-operatives: For Modern Grassroots Representation Conference Believes: 1. Research by Birkbeck College Students’ Union suggests that students’ unions in higher education who elect hierarchal sabbatical officer structures are more likely to have less liberation campaigning on campus and by extension, fewer LGBT, Black, Women, Mature Students and Disabled people involved. 2. Unions which have hierarchal sabbatical structures that also have a large number of clubs and societies do manage, though, to keep participation higher than those that do not have many clubs and societies. Conference Further Believes: 1. Many students’ unions are looking to ways to involve more students in representation and in how their students’ union ‘works for them’. 2. Active, visible and campaigning sabbatical officers who support liberation and clubs and societies are the best medicine for our unions. 3. Hierarchal sabbatical officer structures have the effect of electing fewer Black people: Birkbeck’s research is backed up by the NUS Black Students’ Campaign which shows despite Black students being over 20% of the student population, Black officers and representatives make up only around 4%. Conference Resolves: 1. To support egalitarian, non-hierarchal models for student union governance. 2. To support job-shares within students’ unions and within the LGBT Campaign. 3. All trustees of a students’ union must be elected in some form by the student members of a students’ union in a ballot at a Council meeting, General Meeting or cross-campus ballot, by multi-member STV to promote inclusivity and proportionality.

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4. To issue a briefing to sabbatical officers on being ‘active and visible’ to their LGBT student community on campus. Motion Number: 206 Motion Heading: NUS LGBT Community Website Conference believes: 1. There is no independent central point online for different LGBT societies to advertise events or campaigns that they are running locally. 2. The only outlets for this sort of advertising are social networking websites like Bebo and Facebook. 3. Officer Online only has a section where members of the NEC can post blogs. 4. Within the LGBT campaign section of Officer Online, it is only the LGBT officers who can post blogs. 5. Individual LGBT societies are isolated from each other in terms of organising events together, providing resources and best practice advice to each other. Conference further believes: 1. By restricting the communication between different LGBT societies to social networking websites, it isolates LGBT students who cannot join online LGBTrelated groups or sign up for LGBT-related updates/events because they are not out to all their friends or family on these websites. 2. The lack of communication and advertising means that events and campaigns are not as strong as they could be because LGBT societies are unable to use the wealth of knowledge, opinions and support that could be available from other LGBT societies to enhance their own events and campaigns. 3. LGBT students would benefit from new sources of support and advice; and a new sense of closer community. 4. The national LGBT campaign would benefit from stronger events and campaigns. Conference resolves: 1. To mandate the NUS LGBT Committee to develop a website that provides an access point for all LGBT students to contribute to campaigns being run throughout the UK, whether it be directly (being there in person to show support) or indirectly (providing resources and advice through the website). 2. To encourage LGBT societies to collaborate when running events and campaigns to make them more effective and to send out a stronger campaign message Motion Number: 207 Motion Heading: NUS Policy; Inclusion not discrimination Conference believes: 1. NUS LGBT policy states that “Constituent Member may appoint a maximum of two open place (2) delegates and two women’s place (2) delegates.” This policy can be a hindrance to some institutions where there is a high male to female ratio.

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2. Current policy does not allow for occurrences where female members are unwilling or unable to attend conference and in such situations constitute members are therefore unable to send delegates to conference. 3. The gender balance policy should be viewed as a positive thing that encourages more females to attend conference Conference further believes: 1. The delegate admissions policy should be flexible enough to ensure maximum participation from all institutions. 2. Constitute members should do all in their power to encourage women to attend conference so situations do not arise where there are no plausible female delegates 3. Allowing dedicated women’s’ places to be filled by open place delegates will allow for improved involvement in the LGBT campaign Conferences resolves: 1. The current gender balance policy should be readdressed and reformed to be more inclusive and flexible where it is impossible for female delegates to attend conference 2. There should be sufficient flexibility in policy to allow in situations where there are not enough female delegates for there to be three open places and one dedicated women’s’ place 3. Where it is impossible to be more inclusive to female delegates the places should be offered as open places to be a more inclusive LGBT campaign as a whole Motion Number: 208 Motion Heading: Putting the LGBT into FE Conference believes 1. Further Education students (college students) outnumber Higher Education (university students) in the UK, and make up the majority of NUS members 2. That last year the NUS LGBT Campaign held a training day called “Putting the LGBT into FE” where 25 Further and Higher Education students were trained up in promoting and developing LGBT societies and campaigns in colleges 3. That linking in with this work is a briefing (available as a hard copy or online) called “Putting the LGBT into FE” 4. That research carried out in 2006 by the Centre for Excellence in Leadership into the experiences of LGB students and staff in Further Education highlighted the need for LGBT societies to be present in colleges, not only to provide a safe space for LGBT students, but also to increase retention rates of LGBT students and provide a greater student experience 5. The research also showed that both students and staff wanted greater cooperation between students and staff, and more student/staff LGBT networks created Conference further believes

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1. That the “Putting the LGBT into FE” initiative has allowed the development of LGBT societies in colleges, but a lot more work needs to be done 2. That there are specific issues for Further Education students that often (but not always) don’t apply to students in Higher Education, such as – 3. A lack of funding from either the students’ union or college for an LGBT society to be launched 4. A lack of resources 5. Unco-operative colleges and college staff that sometimes don’t even realise they are affiliated to NUS 6. Colleges and sixth-forms with a religious ethos may not always be so keen to promote an LGBT society Conference resolves 1. To re-launch the “Putting the LGBT into FE” initiative, but re-focussing it to include the following actions – 2. The continued development of strong and active LGBT societies and campaigns in colleges 3. The promotion of twinning between local colleges and universities 4. The focussing of the “Liberation in Every Union” initiative to creating more LGBT officers in colleges 5. The creation of an FE LGBT focus group, to enable more FE LGBT students to steer the direction of the Campaign and deliver for the needs of Further Education 6. The promotion of developing stronger staff/student links and launching staff/student LGBT groups 7. To work with the NUS Vice-President (Further Education), the Further Education representative on the national LGBT committee and the five (or more) Further Education NEC block members in delivering these actions 8. To ensure that the national LGBT committee has training in Further Education issues, and that they are out in colleges as well as universities developing LGBT societies and supporting local campaigns and events 9. To always deliver our paid events at a lower cost for Further Education students, and look into delivering more free events for Further Education students Motion Number: 209 Motion Heading: Any Queeries? Conference believes: 1. “Queer” has been, and continues to be, a growing area of debate at NUS LGBT Conference and within NUS LGBT Campaign, including the NUS LGBT Reform process. 2. Many delegates to Conference, especially first time delegates and those who have not previously been involved in LGBT activism, are unsure of what “Queer” means, or feel they do not have sufficient understanding to take part in discussions. 3. Steering committee and NUS LGBT Committee have been asked, at LGBT Conference 2008 and at Activist Training Days, to clarify what “Queer” means. 4. NUS LGBT ran a workshop entitled “Queer Theory” at the South West Region Activist Training Day in November 2008.

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Conference further believes: 1. Debate around Trans issues and identities continues within our campaign, and is influenced by debates around Queer. 2. In order for delegates to feel involved in Conference, and take part in discussions, debate and voting, they need to understand the issues in question. 3. Understanding can only increase through education. 4. While individuals’ own interpretations and usage of "Queer" can differ, there are basic principles of Queer Theory which can be agreed upon and explained. 5. Workshops can be an effective way for a wide range of viewpoints to be shared, and can provide a safe environment to ask questions and further understanding of the basic premises of a debate, without pushing personal agendas. 6. Attending workshops could and should enable delegates to feel more able to participate in policy debate involving Queer and Trans issues. Conference resolves: 1. To run workshops about Queer at every Activist Training Day in 2009. 2. To run a workshop about Queer at NUS LGBT Conference, so that delegates who have not been to an Activist Training Day have the opportunity to attend. 3. To ensure that these Queer workshops are not held only at the same time as Trans workshops. 4. To mandate LGBT Committee to produce an easy-to-understand guide to Queer, incorporating a number of different viewpoints, and maintaining overall objectivity. Motion Number: 210 Motion Heading: Representing the Grand Olde Queens of Yore! Representing Mature Students in our Campaign Conference Believes: 1. Mature Students are making up around 70% of further and higher education, which also equals about 40% of higher education. 2. Mature Students are totally under-represented with the LGBT Campaign. 3. Mature Students have a lot of life experience to being to the LGBT Campaign and are keen to be involved. Conference Further Believes: 1. That Conference 2008 passed policy to have a Caring Responsibilities Caucus permanently on the agenda for each Conference. 2. That the creation of a Caring Responsibilities Rep on the Committee was defeated, however with Campaign Reform, this debate should be re-opened. 3. It is the policy of NUS Women’s and Disabled Students’ Campaigns to campaign for a ‘caring responsibilities rep in every Union’ and this policy has also been approved by National Conference. Conference Resolves:

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1. To amend the Standing Orders to create a requirement for a Mature Students’ Caucus. 2. To amend the Standing Orders to create a Mature Students’ Rep on Committee, elected by the Mature Students’ Caucus. 3. To amend the Standing Orders to create a Caring Responsibilities Caucus. 4. To amend the Standing Orders to create a Caring Responsibilities Rep on Committee elected by the Caring Responsibilities Caucus. Motion Number: 211 Motion Heading: We all bat for the same team! Getting abuse out of our sports clubs and societies. Conference Believes: 1. Many LGBT individuals belong to sports clubs and societies within their student unions. 2. These clubs regularly hold initiation meetings and frequently engage in alcohol misuse. 3. Initiation meetings and socials have in the past involved excessive drinking, offensive activities and have risked the welfare of students. 4. In 2003, a student Alex Doji died at Staffordshire University from choking on his own vomit after a sports night out. 5. In some institutions, club cultures have perpetuated hate crimes and prejudice. 6. In 2008, one sports club at the University of Gloucestershire held an infamous Nazi ceremony. 7. Where hate incidents have occurred within the 18 – 24 age group, 75% of them were cases of homophobic abuse. (Gay British Crime Survey 2008 – Stonewall). 8. Numerous studies have shown that alcohol misuse contributes to aggressive behaviour. 9. LGBT students are more at risk of falling victim to discrimination in an environment that advocates heavy drinking and abusive behaviour. Conference Further Believes: 1. Student unions are membership organisations and thus, every union is responsible for the safety of its members. 2. Forced or coerced use of alcohol is intimidating and physically damaging to students. 3. Clubs and societies should not be a place where LGBT students feel intimidation. 4. Club culture can be misogynist, homophobic and racist and consist of many views which are insulting to minority groups. 5. The NUS LGBT should take a stand against homophobic, biphobic and transphobic abuse wherever it occurs. 6. That liberation in our unions starts with grassroots action working through clubs and societies to stamp out this abuse. Conference Resolves:

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1. To mandate the NUS LGBT Committee to work on a campaign to tackle discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity in sports clubs and societies. 2. To utilise Activist Training Days to guide students on dealing with the issues related to club culture. 3. To work with the NUS Welfare campaign against alcohol misuse in our unions. 4. To find and work with other organisations currently campaigning against abuse as a result of sexual orientation or gender identity occurring within sports clubs and societies. 5. To mandate the NUS LGBT Committee to produce information packs to aid unions with their campaigning. 6. To work with the VP Union Development to ensure that all summer training programmes for Sports and Societies Officers will address Equality and Diversity issues. Motion Number: 212 Motion Heading: Flirt! An Appalling Event Promoted by NUSSL Conference Believes: 1. A union wishing to run Flirt! Has to pay £1500 in the first year for a license and then £1000 each year after. Additional fees apply to branded events. 2. Flirt! has branding which includes ‘toilet door’ figures of a ‘man’ and a ‘woman’. 3. Sexist and heteronormative t-shirts are worn at the events by staff with ‘Miss Flirt’ and ‘Master Flirt’ on them. 4. The whole event is built on heterosexuality and absolute heternormativity. Conference Further Believes: 1. Our Sisters in the Women’s Campaign have voted unanimously to “Switch off Sexist Sub.TV” and to “sanction NUSSL for its appalling catalogue of sexism”. 2. Our Unions must be safe spaces for our members, all our members! This does not just mean safe for only white, middle class straight cisgendered men! 3. Flirt! operates through NUSSL’s promotion branding events which are inherently sexist and deeply heternormative. 4. If only this appalling event’s branding stopped there: Flirt and NUSSL promote “Pimps and Ho’s”, a deeply offensive theme promoting the control and abuse of women. 5. We cannot allow our Union’s and students’ monies to be spent on the proliferation of LGBT-phobia, sexism, racism and unsafe spaces. Conference Resolves: 1. To issue to SU staff, through AMSU and NUSSL, a guide on being inclusive and running inclusive events for LGBT students. 2. To promote the need for non-gendered toilet facilities, which are accessible. 3. To censure Flirt! as a deeply offensive event to many LGBT students, and to write to NUSSL outlining our policy towards Flirt! (and similar events NUSSL promotes) and ask them to agree to a Safe Space Protocol, drawn up by the LGBT Committee covering the requirements of Resolves 1.

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Motion Number: 213 Motion Heading: LGBT Issues are Gender Issues are Disability Issues are Ethnicity Issues Conference believes: 1. LGBT students experience oppression and social stigma. 2. Such stigma and oppression is experienced by disabled people, women and those from ethnic minorities. 3. That such oppression is experienced as a result of an interpretation by society of deviance from social norms of body or of social expression. 4. That such social norms are culturally reliant and thus are interpreted differently by those from differing ethnic backgrounds. Conference further believes: 1. LGBT people are discriminated due to a deviance from the social norms of binary gender, of masculinity and of feminity. 2. Trans people are discriminated against due to a deviance from the social norms of a binary gendered body 3. Those from ethnic minorities are discriminated against due to a deviance from social, cultural norms and/or the social (culturally dominant) norms relating to body and skin colour. 4. Disabled people are discriminated against due to a deviance from the social norms of social interaction and/or the social norms of an able body. 5. That all campaigns would benefit from working together more closely and drawing upon elements of disability theory, gender theory, ethnicity theory and LGBT theory. Conference resolves: 1. To work alongside all campaigns to secure a common aim. 2. To produce literature that explores the diversity of human expression and body from the perspective of all campaigns in order to encourage tolerance through understanding rather than pity. 3. To engage with all campaigns in academic discussion surrounding LGBT issues, gender studies, ethnicity theory and disability theory in order to gain a greater knowledge of such issues which may inform the LGBT campaign’s methods. Motion Number: 214 Motion Heading: For a fighting, feminist campaign Conference Believes: 1. That sexism is still exists, and the LGBT campaign must challenge the myth that women are equal in society. 2. In order to gain true LGBT liberation, we must defeat sexism. 3. That the root causes of homophobia, sexism and transphobia are indistinguishable. 4. An LGBT campaign which is detached from feminism and the women’s movement is one which isn’t truly delivering for its members.

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5. That many LGBT societies are not representative of women, and struggle to get women involved. 6. That black women, bisexual women and Trans women are even less likely to be involved in our movement and within LGBT societies. Conference Further Believes 1. That the high level of women’s involvement due to effective women’s representation is something that as a campaign we should be proud of. 2. That the LGBT community is not exempt from the oppression of women, and we must never forget that as a movement we too can be guilty of sexism. 3. That Trans women are woefully underrepresented in the women’s movement, often due to misunderstanding of trans issues. Conference Resolves: 1. To re-affirm our commitment to women’s representation and feminism within our campaign 2. To work with the women’s campaign to put on an LGBT women’s network day 3. To work with the women’s campaign to re-establish the root causes working group, which looks into the root causes of sexism and homophobia. 4. To update and relaunch the ‘Under Construction’ Women’s guide to help LGBT societies involve more women. 5. To work with the women’s campaign to get more trans women involved in the women’s movement Motion Number: 215 Motion Heading: Training and Campaigning to Win Conference believes 1. That in November 2008 the second year of Activist Training Days were held, with a 25% increase in numbers on the previous year. 2. That the Activist Training Days focussed on developing and strengthening LGBT societies; campaigning and lobbying for change; gaining knowledge on specific LGBT issues; problem-solving; and sharing best practice on issues affecting local LGBT societies. 3. That the current national LGBT Committee had a three day training residential in July 2008 that equipped them with knowledge and tools they used to be effective and active this year. 4. That LGBT students in Further Education have different concerns to those in Higher Education. Conference further believes 1. That as a result of the Activist Training Days we have seen many vibrant campaigns run across the UK and important networks built up between local students’ union LGBT representatives. 2. That during the reform consultation process that occurred this year, many LGBT students called out for more local and regional action and for more indepth training opportunities, especially for LGBT officers and leaders of LGBT societies.

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3. That building local and regional networks of students is an extremely effective campaigning tool, allowing both proactive and reactive action. 4. That providing the national LGBT Committee with extensive and tailored training has shown results; the committee took an active role in running the Activist Training Days and have been more visible than ever before, visiting campuses and running workshops and events. 5. That all our training must reflect our membership, and we must work harder to ensure Further Education issues are mainstreamed into the training of Higher Education students. Conference resolves 1. To continue to champion the training of activists and hold 6 Activist Training Days in November 2009, building on the effective programme that was launched in 2008. 2. To advertise these events from the beginning of summer, not just to LGBT students, but to all sabbatical and part-time students’ union officers as well. 3. To hold a residential training event specifically for LGBT Officers or LGBT society heads in summer 2009. 4. To give this event a focus on how to be an effective activist, with specific attention to leadership and motivating other people into action 5. To ensure that at this training event there are reserved places for Further Education students, which will be free of charge. 6. To utilise the LGBT Officers trained at this event as “regional leaders” and launch Regional Action Networks, led by the national LGBT Committee and these LGBT Officers, with the aim of rolling out effective local, regional and national campaigns. 7. To promote “twinning” between local universities and colleges, to share best practice. 8. To continue to effectively train the national LGBT committee, with specific focus on Further Education issues Motion Number: 216 Motion Heading: Student Club Nights are for ALL students, not just the straight and cisgendered ones! Conference believes: 1. That there are Queer and LGBT students at every students union in the country. 2. That many student unions run LGBT/Queer specific club nights 3. That over 30 student unions have signed up to NUSSL’s Flirt! branded club nights. Conference further believes: 1. That Flirt! is heteronormative and that the Flirt! branding and some Flirt! events are homo-/bi-/transphobic. 2. That LGBT and Queer students should be welcome at all Union club nights, not just those specifically aimed at LGBT and Queer students. 3. That LGBT and Queer students are not always fully understood or sensitively handled by union bar staff and bouncers etc.

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Conference resolves: 1. To campaign for NUSSL to make Flirt! branding and events less heteronormative and more accepting of Queer and LGBT students. 2. To run a creative campaign against heteronormativity and homo-,bi- and transphobia at student club nights. 3. To produce a briefing pack and run workshops at training events on how to make student club nights welcoming and accessible to Queer and LGBT students. 4. To include in the briefing pack information on the access needs of trans students at club nights, paying particular attention to their need for gender neutral toilets and to be able to use the toilets of their choice unquestioned. Motion Number: 217 Motion Heading: Defending LGBT-only Policy Making Conference Believes: 1. It is the back-bone of our campaign that only LGBT students can participate in our policy-making Conference 2. It is extremely important that LGBT students have a safe-space in which to debate and formulate policy, without interference from those who do not selfdefine as LGBT. 3. Our campaigns are when we welcome support from non-LGBT people in achieving our goals. Conference Further Believes: 1. We would not dream of sending non-Black people to the Black Students Conference or non-disabled people to the Disabled Students’ Conference. 2. Autonomous caucuses are not a la carte options to define in and out of during a Conference because one is ‘interested’. They are extremely important closed events for only those who do define into that caucus to debate matters of common concern and to elect their representatives (if needed). Conference Resolves: 1. To defend our Caucuses and state that only people who define into that Caucus may attend that Caucus. 2. For the LGBT Officers to write to members of the NEC reminding them of the important of autonomous caucuses which are lesbian-only, bisexual-only and trans-only within our campaign. 3. For only LGBT students to be able to attend our Conferences as members of the Conference. Motion Number: 218 Motion Heading: Support LGBT students and officers in FE Conference believes:

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1. 2.

Most HE Unions have some sort of LGBT society or group there are significantly less LGBT societies in FE than HE FE colleges have different ways and structures for their LGBT societies; some are staff-led, some student-led.

Conference further believes: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

It can be hard for FE students to set up their own LGBT society without encountering homophobia from other students or college staff It can be hard acquiring funding for LGBT campaigns or events if there’s no Student Union budget there to help fund it. It can be hard acquiring student autonomy from the college in the LGBT society within FE LGBT students find it harder to come out in FE rather than HE. LGBT students need a safe, welcoming atmosphere in FE in order to progress confidently into HE or into employment.

Conference resolves: 1. 2. 3. 4.

The LGBT campaign should pay particular attention to supporting LGBT societies in FE. Develop the “Putting LGBT into FE” toolkit further Mandate the Officers and committee members to use this important project to make FE LGBT society development and involvement a priority in 2009/10 Work with the NUS VP Union Development and VP Further Education to make sure Students’ Unions in FE are supportive towards their LGBT societies.

Motion Number: 219 Motion Heading: Tackling Prejudice in Our Student Media Conference believes: 1.

2. 3.

That student-run media in all its forms (newspapers, radio stations and TV channels) is one of the main ways in which students have contact with their Union or Guild. That such media has a duty to be respectful of all sections of the student body, and should not knowingly promote or provide a platform for prejudice. That students who are not well-represented in their media can feel ostracised and disenfranchised.

Conference further believes: 1. 2. 3.

That homophobic, transphobic and sexist material has been given a platform numerous times over the last academic year. That publication of such material has caused much offence and upset among the student body. That such blatant prejudice cannot be tolerated.

Conference resolves: 1.

To provide education and training packs to all directors of student media ventures on how to deal with LGBT issues.

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2. 3.

To run workshops for editors of or contributors to student media, where possible, on how to be more inclusive. To have NUS release public statements of condemnation whenever prejudiced material is published or broadcast.

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Zone 300: Student Rights & Welfare Zone Motion Number: 301 Motion Heading: Say NO to 0870! Conference Believes: 1. Many LGBT students regularly have to dial ‘08’ numbers to get hold of their Bank, the Student Loans Company, their LEA, Government Departments, NHS Direct and even in some cases their College, University or SU/NUS! 2. From mobile phones the rates are significantly higher than from a landline, with even Freephone numbers being charged at around 35 pence per minute. 3. Students, both young and old, rely on mobile communication, which is especially necessary for student parents, carers, disabled students and single students, especially women, moving around. 4. OfCom’s most recent reports, published in early 2009, have again failed short of proper regulation of ‘08’ numbers, simply requiring ‘08’ organisations to have tiny writing and lightning-speed statements once a number is advertised stating its cost per minute. 5. This is particularly depressing with the rise in all ‘01’ or ‘02’ numbers being inclusive in most domestic landline packages, yet fewer vital organisations advertise their STD number, only their money-making ‘08’ number. 6. OfCom has a proud history it seems of pandering to organisations and business which drain vital money from our unsuspecting members. 7. Urgent action needs to be taken by the Committee to support our members when bombarded with more and more expensive ‘08’ numbers, particularly now with the recession deepening, more organisations will be looking to covertly pick-pocket our members. 8. The recession’s effects have already seen a 40% rise in ‘change of circumstance’ forms being lodged at Birkbeck – action is needed now, not later to save us money. Conference Resolves: 1. Promote widely the website www.saynoto0870.com 2. Lobby all education-sector and LGBT advice partners (SUs, Colleges, LEAs, funding councils, Government Departments and others as identified by the Committee, including NUS HQ) to advertise equally their STD Code number alongside their ‘08’ number, and preferably instead of. 3. Lobby the Government to introduce Secondary Legislation to prohibit Public Bodies (as defined by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (2002 in Scotland)) from solely advertising ‘08’ numbers for their services and offices to the public. 4. Campaign for Freephone numbers to be free from mobile phones. 5. In all NUS campaigning and advice/event materials, to only advertise non ‘08’ numbers, unless it is a Freephone number, in which case in addition with equal prominence. Conference Further Resolves: 1. Simple tips saving money for students are available from ‘Martin’s Money Tips’ on www.moneysavingexpert.com, a simple resource which shall be

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incorporated into the Committee’s work, and the best tips regularly sent to SUs in the ‘NUS Update’ and other media. 2. Appoint the LGBT Officers as the ‘money saving Tsars’ for LGBT students for 2009/10, with target to save students collectively £7.5million in the next year (£10 a head for LGBT students) based on simple, effective communication of Tsarist Tips to save money! 3. Ensure an ethical policy is observed when publicising or promoting a saving – e.g. no Nestlé/SubTV/McDonalds/Coke etc, as determined by the Committee in line with NUS Conference Policy and all Liberation Campaign Policy. 4. Publish the amount estimated saved to our membership in a manner determined by the Committee. Motion Number: 302 Motion Heading: LGBT – Suicide and Self Harm Conference believes: 1. That social stigma and inequalities mean that LGBT people are put under significant pressure in every day life, often leading to self harm and suicide. 2. An estimated 2,725 young people call ChildLine each year to talk about sexual orientation, homophobia or homophobic bullying. Males account for 55% of the calls about these issues, even though they account for only 25% of total calls to ChildLine. Boys were more than twice as likely to report being physically bullied. 60% of the young people who called Childline about sexual orientation, homophobia or homophobic bullying were 12-15 years old. (ChildLine, Sexual Orientation, homophobia and homophobic bullying). 3. In The Bullying of sexual minorities at school: its nature and long-term correlates (Rivers 2001) found that of 119 LGBT adults who had been bullied at school: - 53% had contemplated self-harm as result of being bullied. - 40% had attempted suicide on at least one occasion. - 30% had attempted on more than one occasion. 4. A survey, in 2006, of 6000 pupils aged 15 and 16 found that 11 per cent of girls and 3 per cent of boys reported that they had self-harmed within the last year. (Samaritans 2006) Conference Resolves 1. That the NUS LGBT Campaign should show a lead on this often hidden issue and conduct its own research into self harm and suicide of LGBT Students. 2. That the NUS LGBT Campaign should publicise national help lines such as childline and Switchboard services on its website. 3. To raise awareness of this issue in colleges and universities working with Welfare officers and University/college staff. Motion Number: 303 Motion Heading: Beauty is not a Contest! Conference Believes:

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1. Whilst we may live in the 21st Century, promoting diversity and equality, many organisations and individuals still cling to the sexist ideals of patriarchy, swallowing our society in a downward spiral of misogyny. 2. The mainstream media still promote a narrow vision and concept of beauty, which is pushed by porn barons and other organisations which see human bodies as a tradable commodity first and foremost. 3. In the Western Hemisphere, beauty is also defined on racial grounds, with a disproportionately tiny number of Black women being put forward in commercial advertising. 4. Recently, sexist lads mags, such as FHM, solicited promotional work from Gail Trimble in the guise that beauty is linked to intelligence. 5. Persistently, Sub.TV, a company backed and promoted by NUS’s trading arm NUSSL, beams degrading objectifying images of women into our “safe space” environments. Whilst we can “switch off sexist Sub.TV”, with NUSSL providing these sexist companies a platform and indirectly our money, our bodies will still remain a tradable commodity, treating women as objects. 6. Graphic images have also been broadcast in student and campus media of glove puppets fisting women, performing oral and anal sex on women and this is proudly sanctioned by Sub.TV’s favoured laddish channel Fur.TV. 7. This motion is not about telling people what they can and cannot watch, but it is about campaigning for and providing safe spaces for our members in our facilities, without constantly having to censor media we fund due to their sexist, laddish objectifying misogyny. 8. Recently, beauty pageants have been held across the University of London, lining up a narrow selection of women in front of sexist judges and asking them to answer questions, model and pander to heterosexual patriarchy. 9. Our campuses should be a haven for all students to advance their education, not be graded on their “beauty” and traded as cheap objects. Conference Resolves: 1. To support the Miss-Ogynist protests, organised by women’s groups across London. 2. To write to organisations such as Object, supporting their continuing campaigns against objectification. 3. To support the Women’s Officer and our LGBT Officers in challenging sexism and racism wherever it occurs. 4. To hold a meeting with Sexist Sub.TV about their inappropriate content, and to authorise the Committee to permanently Switch off Sub.TV if Sub.TV doesn’t agree to our Committee’s broadcasting and media protocol. 5. The broadcasting and media protocol shall be drawn up by the Committee and all media available through NUSSL shall adhere to this protocol. Motion Number: 304 Motion Heading: LGBT Students and their Sexual Health Conference Believes: 1. Gay and bisexual men are the group most at risk of contracting HIV, and a range of other STIs, in the UK. 2. Less than half of lesbian and bisexual women have ever been tested for an STI or HIV, of those that have, over half have tested positive for an infection.

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3. One in ten sexually active 16-24 year olds have Chlamydia. 4. Around two thirds of all HIV transmissions in the UK are between men who have sex with men. 5. 1 in 10 gay men in London, and 1 in 20 in the rest of the country, have HIV. 1/3, over 10,000 men, do not know they have it. Late diagnosis greatly increases the chance that they will pass their virus on, while seriously endangering their own health. 6. 11% of new HIV infections are in the 16-24 age group which is an age group that would include students. Conference Further Believes: 1. That sexual health is one of the main issues raised by LGBT students on our campuses. 2. That recent STI and HIV awareness campaigns targeted at students have ignored issues specific to LGBT students. 3. That there is inconsistency on our campuses when it comes to the issue of sexual health, particularly on LGBT issues. 4. That the NUS are ideally placed to help national campaigns disseminate information to LGBT students. 5. That LBT women are often left out of sexual health campaigns and resources. 6. That some LGBT students sell sex (porn or sex work) in order to raise money for their degrees. 7. That there are lots of very good national campaigns which affect the issues LGBT students face but they are not local enough to affect real change. 8. That NUS LGBT events do not openly promote good sexual health or offer sexual health information. Conference Resolves: 1. To mandate the NUS LGBT Campaign to deliver sexual health workshops, in association with leading organisations, at Activist Training Days. 2. To campaign for the improvement in facilities for LGBT students at sexual health clinics. 3. To encourage LGBT societies and Unions in both FE and HE to campaign for on campus sexual health services and screening in partnership with PCTs and Third Sector. 4. To mandate the NUS to provide support to Unions in FE and HE who wish to engage with local health services. 5. To support and work with the Terrence Higgins Trust campaign for greater investment in HIV prevention services. 6. To support and work with national HIV awareness campaigns like the THT THIVK campaign. 7. To engage with national and local projects to put together practical resources for LBT women including an information leaflet on sexual health. 8. To provide an information resource targeted at LGBT students who sell sex. 9. That NUS LGBT events should openly provide those in attendance with free condoms, lube and dental dams and information leaflets where appropriate. Motion Number: 305 Motion Heading: A Sensible Drugs Policy – we need evidence based, fair and compassionate drugs policy now!

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Conference believes: 1. According to the NHS, in comparison with young heterosexual people, LGB young people are 3 times more likely to take MDMA, 8 times more likely to take ketamine and 26 times more likely to take Crystal Methamphetamine. 2. Substance misuse is a concern among trans communities. Barriers to accessing treatment include a lack of sensitivity by service providers and gender segregation within programmes, which serve to exclude trans people. 3. Poly drug use is also a major concern amongst LGBT drug users. 4. While under the effects of drugs including alcohol, people are more likely to participate in risky sexual behaviour. 5. A study at Manchester University showed that when drug users enter drug treatment programs instead of jail, they are far more likely to be rehabilitated. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/nov/17/manchester-universitycrime-study 6. The government has recently refused to lower the classification of MDMA to Class B and upgraded Cannabis to Class B against the wishes of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. 7. Drug including alcohol facilities are closing at an alarming rate. 8. An impact assessment on the effects of the current drug laws has never been carried out. Conference further believes: 1. LGBT illegal drug users suffer more than straight ones due to the added effect of criminalisation of their drug habits, possible mental health problems and wider discrimination in society based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. 2. Criminalisation of the users of some drugs makes them less likely to seek treatment. 3. Drug use should be treated as a public health issue and not a criminal justice matter. 4. Owing to a fear of losing votes, the government is too afraid to take a pragmatic approach when it comes to drugs policy. 5. NUS LGBT has an obligation to stand up for the stigmatised and often hard to reach members of the young LGBT community. Conference Resolves: 1. To mandate the LGBT officers to lobby the government to provide greater facilities for LGBT drug including alcohol users. 2. To write a letter to the government calling for an impact assessment of the current drug laws on the LGBT community. 3. To mandate the LGBT Committee to encourage LGBT groups across the country to provide safer drugs use advice for their members. 4. To oppose the criminalisation of all drug users and to write a letter to the home office making this known. Motion Number: 306

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Motion Heading: LGBT & Mental Health Conference Believes: 1. We are here. We are queer. But we are not always happy. 2. Disproportionately, more LGBT people than non-LGBT people suffer depression and serious mental illness, which more often than straight people, sends them towards suicidal tendencies. 3. This is not caused by a person’s gender identity or sexuality, but is an effect of negative support given to LGBT people by wider society, for instance no safe space to talk about issues of depression or anxiety, or persistant negative connotations made by work colleagues, fellow students etc about a person due to their sexuality or gender identity. Conference Further Believes 1. Depression is a downward spiralling illness of the mind, and once a person experiences depression, it is more likely that they will suffer from continuing bouts of depression for the rest of their life. 2. Other mental health issues include psychiatric issues, often involving personality. 3. It is now commonly held that mental health issues, which are recognized disabilities, are caused by societal interactions of the environment with a person, thereby changes in society and environments are required to be inclusive of those of us with different mental architectures. 4. Stamping out LGBT-phobia would be the best remedy for LGBT people with mental health issues! 5. We need to take on fascists, bigots and many organized religious doctrines in order to combat LGBT-phobia. Conference Resolves: 1. Issue to students’ unions a briefing on Mental Health and LGBT students, promoting LGBTMind as an excellent organization to contact confidentially. 2. Work with Advice UK and the Nightline organization to provide bespoke training to volunteers, advice centres and counselling services on sympathetically handling LGBT mental health issues. 3. Enter a dialogue with main faith representatives in the UK (including Christian, Islam, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh and Buddhist) in agreeing a universal statement of support and inclusivity of LGBT people within faith communities. Motion Number: 307 Motion Heading: Fighting for Equality in Healthcare Conference Believes: 1. The healthcare system consistently ignores, devalues and discriminates against the LGBT community. 2. Health provision in the UK often ignores specific LGBT health needs in heterosexist policies and training of healthcare staff. 3. Currently, medical schools are under no obligation to include training for medical students and junior doctors on sexual orientation and gender identity

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4. A recent study by stonewall on lesbian and bisexual women’s health indicated that over half of the women who responded had negative experiences in the healthcare sector. 5. That LGBT people face specific mental health issues which need to be addressed. 6. That many institutions in both HE and FE have campus medical practices and counselling services which provide for all students, including LGBT students. 7. That students’ unions provide invaluable welfare support to students, including LGBT students. Conference Further Believes: 8. That NUS LGBT have launched a healthcare manifesto with Terrance Higgins Trust, Stonewall and Unison, detailing 10 demands for a more LGBT inclusive healthcare system 9. These demands include mandatory training for junior doctors on LGBT issues, better sexual health information for LGBT women, and more funding for HIV prevention to match the rising rate of diagnoses in gay and bisexual men. 10.That at the time of writing, the campaign is lobbying the general medical council to ensure that LGBT issues are part of new curriculum guidelines for undergraduate medical education. 11.That working with other organisations with expertise in the healthcare system are the key to success in this area of work 12.That often LGBT people do not register with their campus healthcare services, use campus counsellors or their union welfare services for fear of discrimination. 13.That the answer is not to give everyone the same, it is to address LGBT specific health needs. 14.That we need more evidence of access to healthcare issues on campuses in order to better campaign on this issue. Conference Resolves: 15.To continue to make better access to healthcare a priority campaign for 20092010 16.To conduct a nationwide survey of LGBT students on their mental and physical healthcare needs and experiences, so that appropriate resources and evidence of specific health needs can be presented to campus healthcare providers. 17.To work with THT to deliver training for LGBT groups on how to lobby Primary Care Trusts on local provision for LGBT people. 18.To use the LGBT healthcare manifesto to shape our work on this issue into 2009-10 and beyond. Motion Number: 308 Motion Heading: Opposing ‘Miss’ Pageants in Universities and FE Colleges Conference believes: 1. A private entertainments company has established a ‘Miss University of London’ competition that has held ‘heats’ for several colleges throughout the

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University of London group including King’s College, UCL, LSE and SOAS and held a ‘final’ in February 2009. 2. There was strong protest from LGBT groups and LGBT officers as well as women’s groups and women’s officers. 3. The winner of the Heythrop College heat was not only denied a place at the final but was also not allowed into the building where it was held on the basis that the contestant is biologically male. 4. Anti-pageant students protesting against women’s objectification also protested against transphobia. Conference further believes: 1. That ‘Miss’ pageants contribute to the perpetuation of narrow gender stereotypes. 2. That ‘Miss’ pageants do not represent the diversity of the student population and can be particularly alienating to gender variant students. That ‘Miss’ pageants impact on the welfare of these students and may contribute to their marginalisation from SUs. 3. That these events may currently be seen as official University events, as endorsed by their SU or even publicised on campus. 4. That ‘Miss’ pageants violate the equal opportunities policies of Educational Institutions by promoting the idea that only one ‘type’ of student may represent that Institution. 5. That ‘Miss’ pageants have no place in Education. Conference resolves: 1. To support NUS Women’s conference’s motion ‘Opposing Objectification of Women University Students’ and to extend condemnation of ‘Miss’ pageants as openly transphobic and potentially damaging to the welfare of gender variant students. 2. To encourage all affiliated Unions to ban such competitions from their Unions and oppose those held on campus or under the names of their Universities or FE Colleges. 3. To encourage all affiliated Unions to actively distance themselves from such events by issuing statements clarifying that ‘Miss’ pageants are not official SU events. 4. To do so without demonising those who take part in pageants but whilst emphasising the wider effect of such competitions. Motion Number: 309 Motion Heading: Self-insemination: A Right to Choose Conference Believes: 1. The desire to have a baby is totally natural 2. For women the options are to have penetrative sex with a donor, to have IVF or to self-inseminate. 3. Many lesbians in previous decades put their sexuality to one side and partnered with a man for the purpose of having a baby, sometimes these unions were between a lesbian and a gay man, and for all intents were marriages on convenience to raise a family.

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4. Self-insemination using donation apparatus, such as a turkey baster, is extremely poor in targeting semen effectively within the cervical foyer, though it is cheap, and with a willing donor is usually anonymous if needed. Conference Further Believes: 1. There are horrendously unethical companies available such as Man Not Included, run by straight men, who deliver fresh semen to lesbians via moped. 2. This donation has not been screened for viruses. 3. Lesbians should not have to suffer with the dregs of patriarchal society determining how they should inseminate themselves. Conference Resolves: 1. To work with our NHS in clear and healthy guidance for lesbians who wish to inseminate. 2. To work with NUSSL at sourcing self-insemination kits for stock in our students’ union advice centres. 3. To campaign to shut down companies like Man Not Included as unethical and sexist. Motion Number: 310 Motion Heading: Putting GNT into FE Conference believes: 1. It is much more likely that HE will have gender-neutral toilet facilities than FE Trans students study in FE as well as in HE 2. In institutions where gender-neutral toilets have been implemented, Trans inclusion has increased 3. Gender-neutral toilets can benefit a number of different social groups, not just Trans 4. FE LGBT societies can encounter lots of opposition when trying to lobby the college to implement GNTs. Conference further believes: 1. Colleges play a significant role in furthering Trans students education 2. NUS have helped and supported the HE unions with their implementation of GNTs FE may not have a well established LGBT Society, and may only cater for LGB students 3. FE Unions may have a gender group where Trans issues are ignored Conference resolves: 1. For NUS LGBT campaign to support and encourage FE LGBT societies/Unions to implement GNTs where possible. 2. To promote the “Trans Students’ Briefing” to all FE Unions and LGBT Societies 3. NUS LGBT to encourage FE Unions and/or LGBT societies/gender groups to be Trans inclusive

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4. For the LGBT Officers and committee to create a simple guidance toolkit around the need for and the implementation of GNTs in an FE College. 5. To work with the VP Welfare on the creation of the toolkit to ensure that Trans welfare is highlighted and promoted throughout. Motion Number: 311 Motion Heading: Fight Discrimination – Stop the BNP Conference Believes 1. That the British National Party is a fascist organisation that stands for an all white, all straight Britain 2. Mark Collett, former chairman of the Young BNP, described homosexuals as "AIDS Monkeys", "bum bandits" and "faggots" and said the idea of homosexuality was a "sickening thought". 3. Phil Edwards, BNP National Press Officer said that homosexuality led to ‘moral turpitude and disease,’ and that it should be ‘returned to the closet where it belongs.’ 4. That the BNP is a violent organisation with leading members being convicted of violent hate crimes and possession of explosives 5. That where the BNP are active, hate crimes rise 6. That the BNP should have no place on our campuses, in our council chambers or on our streets Conference Further Believes 1. That there is a very real danger of the BNP winning representation in the EU parliament this summer 2. That most people abhor the BNP and their prejudiced lies but history has shown that during times of economic downturn, support for fascism rises 3. That BNP successes would represent a direct threat to minority communities 4. That it is vital that these minorities work together and with their straight and white allies in a united fight against fascism 5. That NUS LGBT should play an active role in Unite Against Fascism and work closely with Love Music Hate Racism Conference Resolves 1. To work closely with UAF and LMHR supporting initiatives and events and producing joint publicity helping to alert the LGBT student community to the BNP threat 2. To work with LMHR to organise more Love Music Hate Homophobia events 3. To support and publicise the Love Music Hate Racism carnival in Stoke 4. To send representatives to events marking the 10th anniversary of the David Copeland Nail bombing in Soho which targeted the gay community and killed 3 people including a pregnant woman Motion Number: 312 Motion Heading: Getting rid of heterosexism in medical care Conference believes:

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1. That terms such as ‘sexual intercourse’ used in the medical profession are used to refer exclusively to heterosexual practices. 2. That issues regarding sexual activity can be pertinent to LBT patients with regards to health issues other than sexual health. Conference further believes: 1. That the use of such terms is often not synonymous with the information that is being asked of the patient. 2. That terms such as ‘sexual intercourse’ are used in a heterosexist way. 3. That the use of these terms can be confusing for LBT patients; making them feel as though they must divulge their sexual orientation when it is not relevant. 4. That LBT patients should have access to sensitive and inclusive health care. Conference resolves: 1. To campaign for the language used in doctor-patient interactions to not assume the patient is heterosexual. 2. To campaign for this language to be more direct and clinical, allowing for further elucidation if necessary. Motion Number: 313 Motion Heading: Liberating Drag Kings Conference Believes: 1. NUS has policy to promote a diverse range of images of loving parents, and in 2008, National Conference passed a motion for these images to include drag kings. 2. Outside of National Conference, many student representatives and delegates have enquired as to exactly what a drag king is; some have explained that they thought it was a joke and was just a play on 'drag queen'. 3. A drag king is usually a woman who dresses in stereotypically masculine clothes and expresses a male gender, which usually is part of a performance or gender queer act to a wider audience. Conference Further Believes: 1. Even within the LGBT Campaign, there is much misunderstanding of gender identity and trans identities. 2. Often ridicule is the result of the wish to hide a knowledge gap, and this is especially true of student leaders who feel they 'should know' everything as there is an expectation on them from their electors. 3. Gender expression is a complex part of our identities and as a Campaign we must ensure that our members are comfortable to be able to discuss their knowledge gaps in a safe space. Conference Resolves: 4. For gender expression to be a part of the 2009 Activist Academies and for the Committee to publish a Briefing on gender expression to Students' Unions.

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5. For NUS to include drag kings, as well as other gender expressions, in their images, including drag king mothers. 6. For the Committee to invite a drag king to LGBT Conference 2010 as a guest speaker.

Motion Number: 314 Motion Heading: A National Campaign for ALL LGBT Students Conference believes 1. That our Campaign has an unfortunate history of not always recognising the full diversity of our movement. LGBT people are Black, disabled, women, Queer, part-time students, mature, international religious and postgraduate as well 2. That the causes of sexism, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are bound together, and made worse by the heterocentric society in which we live 3. That it is crucial to involve LGBT students in the fight against racism, and Black students in the fight against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia 4. That accessibility is not just a disabled students’ issue – it enables all students to participate fully 5. The British National Party stand for an “all-white Britain”, and frequently peddle homophobic and sexist filth as well 6. That last year the Campaign affiliated to Unite Against Fascism 7. That recent research carried out by the Equality Challenge Unit into the experiences of LGBT staff and students in Higher Education showed that a lot of students at institutions with a religious ethos believe that they cannot come out 8. That this research also highlighted some tensions between faith and sexuality 9. That LGBT faith organisations such as Imaan (the Muslim LGBT organisation) and BaGeLs (the Jewish LGBT organisation) do great work in promoting community cohesion and acting as a welfare service for students of faith Conference further believes 1. That all the Liberation Campaigns will be stronger if we all work together 2. That anti-fascist organisations like Unite Against Fascism do amazing work in not only combating the BNP, but also promoting multiculturalism and diversity 3. That this year’s NUS LGBT Conference will see the launch of the first national Love Music Hate Homophobia gig, a fundraising event with LGBT performers and musicians, with all proceeds going to UAF 4. That the topic of faith and sexuality is not such a taboo subject that we cannot discuss it at all, and we must do more to promote healthy dialogue in this area Conference resolves

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1. To work with the NUS Women’s Campaign and continue to campaign against sexism and heterocentrism, the joint causes of the discrimination that LGBT people and women face in society 2. To work with the NUS Black Students’ Campaign in combating racism, and ensuring that more Black LGBT students get involved in both of our Campaigns 3. To work with the NUS Disabled Students’ Campaign in making all our campaigns and events accessible to all students, and working on areas of mutual interest (such as mental health) 4. To continue to push for all LGBT societies to become Trans-inclusive, and help students running trans-awareness campaigns and events 5. To support students and students’ unions running Love Music Hate Homophobia events 6. To continue to promote the work of UAF and other anti-fascist organisations fighting against the BNP 7. To hold a “Faith and Sexuality” event in 2010 to address this taboo subject 8. For the national LGBT committee to work out a strategy for increasing participation from mature, part-time, international and postgraduate LGBT students within the Campaign Motion Number: 315 Motion Heading: No Platform for Fascists Only Conference believes: 1. It is important to realise the particular nature of fascism, and not to confuse it with other ideologies, or groups, however much we may oppose their views. 2. No Platform has historically been used as a method of self defence against fascist organisations, not as a tool to silence those whose ideas we find reactionary or discriminatory. It is based on the principle that fascists use democratic means to undermine democracy- the logic of their views would result in the removal of all of these democratic rights 3. Extending No Platform to cover non-fascist groups dilutes both the clarity and efficacy of No Platform policy and leaves us open to allegations of infringing free speech. 4. Most major trade unions have No Platform policies for fascists only. 5. Individuals who are guilty of racism, sexism and homophobia can be barred from NUS LGBT events without the need to No Platform whole organisations. Conference further believes: 1. Singling out conservative Muslim groups for No Platform in NUS sends out a message that certain sources of racism are more acceptable than others. 2. The Conservative Party continues to harbour Ann Winterton- infamous for her jokes about Pakistani and Chinese people, and Patrick Mercer MP- who justified the use of the term ‘black bastard’ as a ‘normal part of army life’. Conference Resolves

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1. To fight all forms of discrimination and ensure that NUS LGBT events remain a safe space for all. 2. To work closely with ARAF and the Black Students Campaign in the fight against racism 3. To implement a No Platform for Fascists only policy, and to campaign for this position Nationally- it is essential that the voice of LGBT students is at the forefront of debate about how to most effectively fight fascism. Motion Number: 316 Motion Heading: Promoting Our Protections Conference believes: 1. That the LGBT rights movement, which the NUS LGBT Campaign is part of, has fought for and won many significant victories over the years in regards to lobbying the UK Legislature to recognise the need for LGBT people to have specific legal protection from discrimination on the grounds of their sexuality, and from homophobic and transphobic attacks and abuse. 2. That despite the LGBT protection laws already in place, research has shown that one in five gay people have been victims of hate crime in the last three years. 3. That research has also shown that three quarters of these victims of hate crime did not report the incidents they experienced to the police. Conference further believes: 1. That every LGBT student should be aware of their rights, and of the protection from discrimination, homophobia and transphobia that they are already legally entitled to. 2. That making efforts to promote current legal protection available to LGBT students does not equate to an agreement that the legislation already in place goes far enough to protect the rights of LGBT people. Conference resolves: 1. That the NUS LGBT Campaign should take action to ensure that LGBT students can become educated about what protection they are currently given by UK law, by producing downloadable resources, which provide comprehensive and up-to-date information on current anti-discrimination and anti-hate crime legislation. 2. That the NUS LGBT Campaign should take action to ensure that LGBT students can become educated about what to do if they experience discrimination or hate crime, by clearly encouraging all victims of discrimination or hate crime to report such incidents, and by providing downloadable information on ways they can go about this. Motion Number: 317 Motion Heading: Equality for LGBT Parents on Maternity and Paternity Rights Conference Believes:

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1. Department for Work and Pensions Minister Pat McFaddon MP is blocking the introduction of the new EU Directive on maternity rights being extended into the UK, stating that the UK will ‘negotiate an opt-out’ 2. Whilst the Minister is correct to say that UK maternity rights are greater than the current EU minimum, the thrust of the new Directive is to empower parents, especially women to take decision on how they take their maternity leave, pay and other rights. 3. Currently statutory maternity pay is 90% of salary and the EU proposes to make this 100%, but for a shorter time. Conference Further Believes: 1. Statutory pay rates are a legal minimum and do not bind companies or Member State governments from agreeing higher and more extensive packages. 2. Pat McFaddon should consult someone with experience of maternity, paternity and parenting campaigning, such as the NUS Women’s Campaign, the Fawcett Society or indeed the European Commission! 3. Disproportionately LGBT parents suffer when these rights are restricted or in someway capped. Conference Resolves: 1. Access to maternity and paternity pay, leave and general rights must be enshrined in a Charter of Rights for Parents and not left up to Ministers’ good intentions 2. Campaign that maternity and paternity rights are assessed under equality legislation to ensure they are equal for LGBT parents, and to produce evidence of this in the Report and Plan next Conference and in online blogs. Motion Number: 318 Motion Heading: Trans Equality is Important Conference believes: 1. Trans people have historically suffered similar oppression to LGB people due to our existence challenging societies normative models of gender. However trans people suffer from specific difficulties that other minority groups often don’t have to deal with 2. Transgender is often simply included when Equality policies are drawn up as a matter of course without considering the actual issues relating to trans people 3. There is general lack of understanding of transgender rights amongst students and staff at universities. 4. Transphobia is not been adequately prevented by the current Equality policies at Student Unions/guilds 5. Information is not made clear to perspective trans students of what their rights are prior to applying to a university 6. Transgender issues rarely get discussed by executive bodies at Student Unions/Guilds

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Conference further believes: 1. Rights in regards to Trans Students transitioning at university are more specific to those normally included within general student union equality policies. 2. Language protection in regards to gender specific language is often not included within general student union equality polices. 3. Even though Transgender is included within Student Union/Guild equality policies many staff, student representative officers and students have very little understanding of what exactly those rights entail 4. Student union equality policies are insufficient at preventing all Transphobia or Transphobic activities occurring within the Student Union/Guild remit, as shown by recent protest concerning the Manchester University student newspaper Student Direct and its publication of Transphobic content. 5. General equality policies do not encourage impact assessment on the trans community when other governance is been put in place. With Trans people often having limited visibility at some institutions this can lead to governance which adversely effects Trans people and isolates or excludes them from participation within student union/guild life. Conference resolves: 1. That all Student Unions/Guilds develop a and implement a separate Trans equality policy 2. That the policy should include a code of practice for Transsexual or intersex students transitioning whilst at university 3. The policy should include people who self define as Trans or Queer 4. To promote staff and student representative officers training on trans issues 5. To Ensure that Student Unions stay a safe Space for Trans identified and LGB identified people 6. To encourage universities to implement their own separate Trans equality policy Motion Number: 319 Motion Heading: A Word of Advice for Richard Littlejohn Conference deplores the attitude of the rightwing hack Richard Littlejohn on his recent outburst in the Daily Mail against the teaching of diversity in schools. There is a major need to educate our young on the differences that there are in the real world. People, hiding behind religious or ethnic views, can and do add to the bigotry that we see around us. Educated the young to respect others, who others are and why people are and they, in turn, will come to respect, the diversity in our communities Conference Resolves 1. To condemn Richard Littlejohn for his continued smallmind, Little England smuttiness in his journalistic scriblings

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2. That it is essential that education must start with the young if we are to ensure that respect for this country’s diverse communities can grow in peace and safety. 3. That the Daily Mail, rightwing toe-rag of a paper direct from the gutter should be de-registered as a newspaper and reclassified as a comic! Motion Number: 320 Motion Heading: ID Cards – Victimising Trans People Conference Believes: 1.

2. 3. 4.

5. 6.

7.

That the Identity Cards Act 2006 establishes a centralised system of databases called the National Identity Register, which will store an unprecedented 50 categories of personal information on each UK citizen and visiting nationals, including biometric data. Each citizen will have to pay an estimated £30 for an ID card or £93 for a combined ID card/biometric passport. The Act requires people to have their gender shown on the ID card. According to a statement released by the Identity and Passport Service via a:gender, forthcoming secondary legislation will allow trans people to hold two ID Cards, but only if clinically diagnosed with a “need” to live in the nonbirth gender part-time. Those living full-time in the non-birth gender may obtain an ID Card in the acquired gender and, optionally, a second card in the birth gender. If a trans person holds two ID cards, only one will be valid for travel throughout Europe. Both must be paid for by the individual. If a full GRC is obtained, the individual may hold only one ID Card in the acquired gender, but their birth gender will be recorded on the Register even if they never held an ID Card in that gender. The German Personalausweis (ID card) does not list the gender of the holder.

Conference Further believes: 1. 2. 3.

4.

5. 6.

That the draft guidelines for the National Identity Register will be a massive infringement of transitioning individuals' right to privacy. ID cards will make LGBT people, particularly trans people carrying two ID cards with conflicting details, more vulnerable to harassment. Many trans people cannot obtain GRCs, for example those whose identity lies outside the boundaries of male or female, those who have lived in their acquired gender less than two years, and those who cannot apply because they want to remain married or in a civil partnership. Only trans people medically diagnosed with a need to live part-time in the non-birth gender will be able to obtain two ID cards, further enslaving trans people to the medical professions. It is illegal to disclose whether a person is in possession of a GRC without explicit permission. At least 300,000 people will be authorised to check the National Identity Register, a massive security risk and infringement of the privacy of trans people with or without a GRC. Indeed the security has already been breached by council staff.

Conference Resolves:

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1. 2. 3. 4.

To publicly oppose those aspects of the National Identity Scheme proposals that impact students and LGBT people. To raise public awareness of those aspects of the scheme that affect trans people. To lobby the Government to change the proposals for the National Identity Scheme to make them less damaging to trans people. To insist that measures are adopted to make it easier to change one's gender marker, or that the gender marker be removed altogether (as on German ID cards).

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Zone 400: Society & Citizenship Zone Motion Number: 401 Motion Heading: Rolling Back Heterosexual Patriarchy! Conference Believes: 1. A family unit is commonly narrowly defined in terms of a patriarchal heterosexual model of one women and one man, usually with children they have conceived together. 2. Within the LGBT community, all of our relatives, our children and our dependents are part of a ‘family’ unit, and this diverse yet inclusive definition must be defended and promoted. 3. Many LGBT people also desire to be parents, and within a climate of stagnant heterosexual patriarchy, it is extremely difficult to create and raise a loving family. 4. For instance, LGBT parents may opt to be single parents, or parents as part of a polyamourous relationship network as well as parents in a twoperson relationship. Conference Further Believes: 1. It is not for the State or religion to define what a ‘family’ is. 2. Regardless of family architechture, the benefits afforded to one family must be equally afforded to another, regardless of construction or sexuality. 3. As LGBT people, our parents and our siblings, being part of an LGBT family, share the discrimination we face because of our gender identity and sexuality. Conference Resolves: 1. To affiliate annually to Pink Parents UK, which is run by The D’Arcy Lainey Foundation, for a cost of £25 (for group membership). 2. To mandate the Committee to issue a briefing on LGBT families and how to support members of LGBT families within students’ unions 3. To make Pink Parenting a topic at Activist Training Days in 2009/10 4. To write to the Minister for Equality requesting a briefing on work and afforded rights won to date by the Labour Government on LGBT families and Pink Parenting and to circulate these to students’ unions. 5. To roll back the heterosexual patriarchal domination of parenting and associated stereotypes of families, promoting diverse images of family units, including polyamourous units.

Motion Number: 402 Motion Heading: Love without Borders: Expanding the Campaign Conference believes: 1. That this year NUS LGBT continued work on Internationalism, and the Love without Borders campaign.

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2. That several LGBT societies have run successful Love Without Borders campaigns and events this year. 3. That homosexuality is still punishable by death or imprisonment in many countries around the world. 4. Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are still present worldwide. Conference further believes: 1. That we live in a global community and therefore should use the privileges we have in this country to fight for the rights of others who are not so fortunate. 2. That 57 countries signed against the UN Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. 3. The Obama administration has removed America from the list of countries who would not sign up to it, which includes Russia and China, and signed it on the 17th March 2009. 4. That showing solidarity with International LGBT groups and campaigning for International LGBT rights are of extreme importance, and the International Day Against Homophobia represents a good opportunity to do so. 5. That in many countries such as Jamaica without laws banning homosexuality, civil justice often takes the form of murder and gang rape 6. That it is extremely difficult to gain asylum due to LGBT status, as York University found when trying to help one of its students. All but the most visible and most strongly fought asylum cases are likely to be thrown out and those applying deported. 7. That in the past the NUS has supported successful appeals for asylum based on LGBT status and is currently working to keep Kizza Musinguzi in the UK. 8. LGBT students from countries which do not support LGBT people may need additional support within unions and the NUS 9. That the union is an ideal environment to work with international students to promote discussion and co-operation on LGBT issues and the Love Without Borders campaign has proved successful in doing so up until now. 10.That such campaigns will not be a success without non-LGBT involvement and the LWB campaign at York University gained far more support from non-LGBT students than previous campaigns. Conference resolves: 1. To mandate the Officers and Committee to continue to support unions running the Love Without Borders Campaign 2. To continue to support asylum cases on a local and national level 3. To continue to support the Love Without Borders Campaign on a national level 4. To encourage LGBT societies to work together locally for effective action. 5. To encourage LGBT societies to support International LGBT societies and show solidarity with them. 6. To work in partnership with the NUS International Students Campaign on the Love without Borders campaign. 7. To encourage LGBT Societies and LGBT Officers to run Love without Borders events, fundraisers and demonstrations

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8. To mandate the NUS LGBT Committee to encourage, facilitate and support IDAHO events run by LGBT Societies. 9. To encourage LGBT Societies to contact International LGBT groups showing solidarity with them and campaigning on their issues.

Motion Number: 403 Motion Heading: LGBT-phobia and the Eastern Bloc Conference Believes: 1. The European Union (EU) recognizes that Lithuania is the most homophobic Member State of the EU, and this was supported in August 2008 by the Foreign Minister of Lithuania who commented that “it would take a generation” to take a more tolerant attitude towards homosexuality. 2. In 2007 an international conference on LGBT rights in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius was attacked by the discharge of poisonous gas! The gassed building was sealed off by Police, even though delegates at the Conference we continuing to suffocate and be poisoned! 3. In nearby Russia in 2006, neo-Nazi thugs beat up participants in the Pride March in Moscow, including a Geman MP. In Latvia, stink and paint bombs were thrown at their Pride March in Riga. 4. Worryingly the LGBT-phobia in the Eastern Bloc continues with the 2008 Romanian LGBT rights march being stoned by protesters and for Polish citizens, their leaders regularly use anti-LGBT policies to enhance their popularity. Conference Further Believes: 1. The Eastern Bloc were essentially run by the Soviet Union until 1990, as part of the Warsaw Pact, and evidence shows that Eastern Bloc countried closest to the West and who have been longer in membership of the EU, have the lowest LGBT-phobia and the most supportive legislation (though in many cases still not ideal!) 2. The Marxist ideology of the Warsaw Pact essentially crushed LGBT liberation. 3. Indeed many of the Warsaw Pact countries now part of or neighbouring the EU have some of the most horrendous LGBT abuses in the world, outside of those run by religious fanatics. Conference Resolves: 1. For the Committee to audit all EU Member States, using appropriate statistics available from qualified bodies, in relation to their LGBT-friendly society, policies and rights. 2. For a Committee member to be appointed to be the Eye on the East, and to regularly report to students’ unions on LGBT Liberation in Eastern Europe. 3. To write to the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the Council of the European Union demanding what progress is being made with LGBT Liberation and equality rights in Europe.

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Motion Number: 404 Motion Heading: BDSM Rights: An LGBT Issue Conference Believes 1. That BDSM refers to the practice, orientation or lifestyle of Bondage and Discipline, Domination and Submission, Sado-Masochism and related activities. 2. That many activities that consensual BDSM practitioners participate in are illegal under current UK law. 3. The Criminal Justice Act 2008 outlaws various forms of “extreme” pornograpy. 4. BDSM Liberation organisations such as CAAN (the Consenting Adults Action Network) have spoken out against this legislation. 5. The Government's consultation document for the Criminal Justice Act (2008), clearly states that research has found no causal link between exposure to violent sexual imagery, and propensity to commit violent sexual acts. 6. The forthcoming extreme pornography law in Scotland is even more restrictive and criminalising than the Criminal Justice Act (2008) 7. That the Consenting Adult Action Network (CAAN) statement of principle, which reads: “We believe in the right of consenting adults to make their own sexual choices, in respect of what they do, see and enjoy alone or with other consenting adults, unhindered and unfettered by government. We believe that it is not the business of government to intrude into the sex lives of consenting adults.” Conference Further Believes 1. That children, and non-consenting adults, need to be protected from being the victims of sexual activity 2. Activities that take place between consenting adults behind closed doors are not the business of government. 3. That LGBT people are more likely than heterosexual and/or cis people to be victimised in matters pertaining to sex and pornography demonstrated in cases such as R vs Brown where gay men received disproportionate punishment - whilst straight, heteronormative couples are often let off by judges. 4. “Pornographic” BDSM imagery is often instrumental in educating BDSM practitioners in safe sex practices. 5. That policy on censorship must be equal and evidence-based . Conference Resolves 1. To campaign against the forthcoming censorship laws in Scotland as being unjustly criminalising of consenting adults. 2. To sign up as an organisation to CAAN's statement of principle in solidarity with BDSM rights activists. 3. To inform NUS LGBT membership about issues pertaining to censorship and pornography, and specifically how they affect LGBT people.

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Motion Number: 405 Motion Heading: Gaydar: A Catalogue of Appalling Objectification Conference Believes: 1. Objectification is the practice where human bodies are purely seen as tradable objects, with people being exploited. 2. Often many people who wish to make some income or extra revenue will sell their bodies, usually to porn barons, who will take 90% of the cut minimum. 3. Many GBT men are subjected to objectification first, which quickly leads to them being fucked bareback and exposed to copious sexually transmitted diseases. 4. Often men who are caught up in this trade and drugged or hypnotized, and the number of sexual partners can exceed 20 a day. Conference Further Believes: 1. Gaydar is a UK “cool brand” and within the Gay community it is well know, and well respected. 2. Gaydar, though, allows membership registrations from pimps, abusers, objectifiers, porn barons and rapists. 3. Whilst the internet is generally difficult to regulate, responsible Internet Service Providers and companies such as Gaydar must follow even the basic protocols of not allowing people to be knowingly harmed. 4. Gaydar rakes in Pink Pounds every year, and often has a spot at Pride events in the UK, promoting its brand and subconsciously promoting rape and abuse. 5. There are many BGT men that deserve our protection from those out to harm on Gaydar. Conference Resolves: 1. To engage with Gaydar and other internet BGT sites which allow sex selling and agree a safe space protocol. 2. To demand that Gaydar publishes its social responsibility policy to our Committee for comment. 3. That Gaydar runs awareness campaigns about the danger of bareback fucking with different partners. 4. Demand that Gaydar publishes an appropriate help hotline on its website, one which isn’t ‘08’ unless freefone and one which the hotline is not charged to be advertised on its site. Motion Number: 406 Motion Heading: Organ Donation Has No Discrimination Conference believes: 1. National Blood Service refuses to allow gay and bisexual men who have ever had sex with a man, to give blood

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2. NUS LGBT Campaign has run a high profile campaign “Donation not Discrimination” against this policy. 3. Stonewall have recently raised awareness by publicly joining the NUS LGBT’s position against National Blood Service policy. 4. Anyone, regardless of sexual orientation or sexual practice, can register as an organ donor. Conference Further believes: 1. Hundreds of people die every year whilst on the transplant waiting list, because there are not enough organ donors. 2. Gay and bisexual men who want to save lives but cannot give blood can save lives by becoming organ donors. 3. LGBT people can show that we are serious about wanting to give blood, by being serious about giving organs and signing the organ donor register – we do want to save lives and we do want to bring about change. Conference resolves: 1. To encourage all LGBT students to give the gift of life, by joining the organ donor register, and informing family and friends of their wishes. 2. To have organ donor registration forms at any Donation Not Discrimination event (where possible) and to encourage all Constituent Members and LGBT groups to do this at blood drives on campus or locally. 3. To include information about organ donation, and that anyone can donate organs regardless of sexuality, in any future Donation Not Discrimination materials produced. 4. To include links to (for online materials), and website addresses of (for paper materials) UK Transplant and Live Life Then Give Life in any future Donation Not Discrimination materials produced. 5. When the blood ban is publicly discussed, to mention that there is no organ donation ban. This will inform gay and bisexual men who want to give blood, that there is another way for them to save lives. Motion Number: 407 Motion Heading: Save Gaza. Conference Believes: 1. That the massacre of over 1300 in Gaza is the result of a bombardment by one of the most heavily armed states on the planet against one of the most densely populated ghettos in the world. 2. The Israeli government has been left free to act because of the acquiescence of western leaders and the background of the “war on terror.” 3. That all this takes place as a result of 60 years of occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people backed by the Western states. 4. That the student solidarity movement for Gaza has been one of the biggest in a generation including over 25 student occupations and sit-ins. 5. LGBT Societies across the country have been involved in these occupations, most notably at Warwick and Queen Mary

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6. NUS LGBT proudly has a standpoint of “Liberation not Occupation” and has policy reaffirming conditions of war and occupation are the worst in which to fight for LGBT liberation Conference Further Believes: 1. That the Palestinians have a right to resist the occupation and decide their own future. 2. That the Palestinian “state” is completely at the mercy of the Israeli government which has broken up the democratically elected government of Palestine. 3. There is no equivalence between the two sides. We must base our position on solidarity with the people of Palestine. Conference Resolves: 1. To support students following through the demands of the occupations. Scholarships for Palestinian students, donating spare equipment to Gaza, support fundraising for Gaza, disinvestment from arms companies 2. To encourage Students Unions to twin with Palestinian universities. 3. To support future protests over Palestine by the Stop the War Coalition and Palestine Solidarity campaign. Motion Number: 408 Motion Heading: Accurate Representations of LGBT People: Emmerdale Farm Beware! Conference Believes: 1. Each and every time the token gay or lesbian rocks up in a terrestrial television channel soap opera, the character is cast in an extremely narrow stereotype. 2. For gay men this is extremely camp, usually narcissistic and outcast. 3. For lesbians, this is destructive to heterosexual marriage and eventually outcast. Conference Further Believes: 1. TV producers pander to stereotypes that their audiences recognize or understand, without putting forward the agenda for change. 2. TV, though, is a powerful changer of hearts and minds and it has its place in history with everone citing “the first gay kiss” or the “first lesbian love”. 3. Tragically, producers have to trade LGBT people for audience ratings even though we do have loving and caring relationships on the whole, there is NO EVIDENCE in main stream terrestrial TV soaps for an LBTG relationships lasting, building and being inclusive within the background plot of soaps. Conference Resolves: 1. Write to the BBC Trustees demanding an explanation in line with the believes of this motion.

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2. Complain to OfCom and the Equalities Commission about the persistent negative associations given to LGBT people and LGT relationships in mainstream TV drama and soap operas. 3. To also demand recognition for polyamourous relationships within the TV soaps. Motion Number: 409 Motion Heading: Hands Off Our Bits! Conference Believes: 1. That Genital Mutilation can be defined as the alteration of a person’s genitals without their consent, often at birth. 2. Genital Mutilation occurs against Female bodied people, Male-bodied people and intersex people. 3. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) often involves the removal of the clitoris, clitoral hood, or other damage to the vagina. It is also known as Female Genital Cutting. 4. Male genital mutilation (MGM) in most cases involves the removal of the foreskin, and is often referred to as circumcision. 5. Intersex genital mutilation (IGM) involves altering the genitals to make them conform to those of an assigned binary sex/gender. 6. Genital mutilation can often lead to severe health and psychological implications for people regardless of their sex or gender. Conference Further Believes 1. That altering a person’s genitals for non medical reasons on a nonconsensual basis is immoral. 2. That although some research has been conducted to suggest that the female bodied sexual partners of male bodied people who have undergone MGM experience greater risk of developing Female Sexual Dysfunction, no research has been conducted into the effect of MGM on same sex partners. 3. That the altering of intersex genitalia to conform to a binary sex/gender system perpetuates the myth of binary gender and harms the LGBT movement. 4. That many intersex people may never know their status as intersex due to IGM. Conference Resolves 1. To campaign against all non-consensual genital mutilation. 2. To prepare a report on Genital Mutilation and LGBT Issues, emphasizing the need for more scientific research into this area. 3. To disseminate this report to Unions, universities, medical professionals, scientists and other interested parties.

Motion Number: 410

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Motion Heading: The DUP: Representational Failures who are Unfit for Government Conference Believes: 1. Iris Robinson and Sammy Wilson, who are both MPs and members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are unfit for responsible democratic representative government. 2. The first duty of a representative of the people is to ALL of their constituents, and whilst neither of them agree with same-sex unions, lesbian reproductive rights or LGBT education in schools, we can usually put that down to ‘political difference’. 3. However, let us not bury our heads in the sands of bigotry! Iris Robinson is a vile bigot and Sammy Wilson is totally unrepresentative. 4. During 2008, Robinson blew spiteful language around Northern Ireland regarding homosexuality and the fact she could cure ‘it’ using her psychiatrist. 5. She also wheeled in God to add even more vile insult. 6. Robinson was reported to the Equality Commission, who did not act. 7. During an exchange with the then Health Minister, Ulster Unionist Chris McGimsey in the House of the Northern Ireland Assembly, she refused to withdraw the remarks and actually re-issued them. Conference Further Believes 1. Iris Robinson is a member of the Democratic Unionist Party, a national socialist and sectarian party of Northern Ireland. She is also a member of the Government of Northern Ireland. 2. Robinson is also a member of the Pentecostal Church in Ireland, a hardline right-wing bigoted sect of Christianity who back up her views. 3. Our Labour Government brought in legislation to stamp out hate crime and our politicians MUST also be subjected to it. Conference Resolves: 1. For the Committee and the National President to investigate the DUP, Iris Robinson, Sammy Wilson and the Pentecostal Church in Ireland and to bring a report, and if necessary a motion back to this Conference to apply ‘no platform’ to them for their fascist views. 2. To report Irish Robinson and the DUP to the Equality Commission for LGBT-phobia, and copy the letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons and Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Motion Number: 411 Motion Heading: Stop the BNP Conference Believes: 1. The BNP are a racist, fascist party 2. The BNP already have a member of the London Assembly and could potentially win a seat in the European Parliament in the June 2009 elections

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3. According to its website, the BNP believe that homosexuality “should not be promoted or encouraged.” 4. BNP spokesman Phil Edwards has said that homosexuality "is unnatural" and "does not lead to procreation but does lead to moral turpitude and disease". He has also stated that homosexuality "undermines social/marital cohesion by adding confusion", and that the BNP would make it unlawful to promote homosexuality and "return it to the closet where it belongs". 5. The BNP opposed the removal of section 28 out of concern of homosexuality being promoted in schools. 6. In the past, the BNP have promoted the re-criminalisation of homosexuality. 7. The BNP’s attitude towards not only the LGBT community but towards women, those from ethnic minorities and trade unionists means they are an anathema to all that we stand for Conference further believes: 1. The BNP display an abhorrent ignorance of homosexuality and would reverse the leaps forward made in LGBT rights over the last 50 years. 2. The BNP have made attempts to gain a foothold in student unions in the past 3. The BNP offer a real risk to LGBT students 4. Voter apathy in elections could lead to fascist parties being elected Conference resolves: 1. To reaffirm our opposition to the BNP and all they believe. 2. To work closely with Hope not Hate and Unite Against Fascism to combat the fascist threat in our society. 3. To expose the BNP for their homophobia and bigotry 4. To encourage all LGBT students to register to vote in order to beat the BNP at the ballot box Motion Number: 412 Motion Heading: Get the Vote Out- Beat the BNP at the ballot box. Conference Believes 1. LGBT Students, and students in general, represent a significant proportion of the voting public both at local, general and European elections 2. That the rise of the fascist BNP poses a real threat to the LGBT community- as well as calling for an all white Britain, they want an all straight Britain too. 3. In May 2008, the BNP made the biggest electoral breakthrough for a fascist party in British history, winning a seat on the Greater London Assembly and 10 more council seats. 4. The BNP are pursuing electoral success in the upcoming European elections in June 2009 Conference Further Believes

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1. We have a duty to mobilize LGBT students to vote to both increase our level of influence over our elected representatives, and well as defeating the threat an elected BNP MEP poses. 2. We also have a duty to expose the true nature of the BNP to our voting members and to the general public 3. Attacks on multiculturalism have intensified in recent years and only set to rise if the BNP gain more success in elections 4. The BNP attack fantastic initiatives such as black history month and LGBT history month as ‘political correctness’ and actively campaign against them. 5. That NUS LGBT along with other liberation groups should actively campaign against the BNP Conference Resolves 1. For the LGBT campaign to fully support the NUS’s ‘Get the Vote Out’ campaign 2. To do all we can do encourage LGBT students to vote in the local and European elections in order to defeat the BNP at the ballot box. 3. To continue to work with anti-fascist campaigns such as Unite against Fascism and Love Music Hate Racism to stop the BNP 4. To encourage LGBT Groups to run ‘Love Music Hate Homophobia’ events in their unions Motion Number: 413 Motion Heading: Identity Politics with Pride Conference Believes:

1. However we choose to identify, for instance be it as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans, this is an identity which gives us a common understanding of each other in relation to other identities. 2. People choose an identity or they are part of an identity due to a commonality, a trait or an interest; it is not something which should be forced on someone. 3. Outside of the narrow LGB & T identities, there are also disability identities, identifying as a women or a man, of both and neither, of being a Black person, having the same language, being of the same race or ethnicity and also of having the same interests or practices. 4. Diversity is a general umbrella term which captures and embraces all identities, and it is diversity which we must protect now and build its understanding for the future. 5. One example of political dissatisfaction in handing different identities is 'multiculturalism' versus 'cultural integration', where the latter is the choice mainly of the Right Wing in politics as a way of blending cultures with the expectation that dominant traits of majority cultures will extinguish all traits of minority cultures. 6. This political view of cultural integration has seen wars, genocides and imperialism dominant.

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Conference Further Believes: 1. On the Left Wing, some Marxist political organisations airbrush identities out of the struggle, believing that only class is a factor. 2. Such organisations rarely get involved in NUS Liberation Campaigns, and where they do, they often belittle the identities of which we are proud. 3. More often than not, these organisations often carry more prejudice towards our proud identities than the Right Wing, because when 'the revolution' comes, our identities will be traded and sacrificed in their political chess game as to who forms the new Politburo. Conference Resolves: 1. To celebrate multiculturalism and oppose integrationist policies as an attack on our identities and cultures. 2. To conduct an audit of political parties and main political organisations in the UK and the EU, in the run up to the European and General elections, and score these parties on the commitment to defending and extending LGBT identities and rights.

Motion Number: 414 Motion Heading: Pride is a Protest Conference Believes 1. That Pride marches started as a political protest for LGBT rights. 2. That the LGBT movement is rooted in direct action such as the Stonewall riots and the early Pride marches. 3. That some Pride events now charge entry for Pride marches. Conference Further Believes 1. That the political meaning of Pride has been lost and Pride events are becoming ever more commercialised – being driven by ‘gay business’. 2. That charging entry into Pride marches limits involvement only to those groups who can afford to pay, and stops grassroots involvement. 3. That the result is that marches are dominated by bars, clubs and businesses who have no political message but instead hijack the event to advertise themselves. 4. That the commercialisation of Pride is just one part of the increasing dominance of the ‘pink pound’ over the lives of LGBT people. 5. That the commercialised gay scenes dominated by the pink pound exploit queer people in order to make a profit. 6. That the fight for LGBT and Queer liberation is not over and that the movement needs more than just a parade; it needs direct action. 7. That students in Birmingham organised a Pride march under the banner of ‘Pride is a Protest’ and Manchester Pride anti-commercial actions by students took place. Conference Resolves

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1. For the campaign to publicly condemn any Pride organisations that charge entry for a Pride march. 2. For the NUS LGBT campaign to help organise and support political Pride marches and campaigns against Prides that charge a entry fee into the Pride march. 3. To organise a national demonstration to demand LGBT and Queer liberation, as a political alternative to the apolitical business-driven parades of Pride festivals. Motion Number: 415 Motion Heading: Unlocking Trans Healthcare Conference Believes: 1. Historically Trans people have suffered terribly in all aspects of healthcare in the UK 2. The NHS has been slow to keep up with new developments in culture and treatment when it comes to Trans patients. 3. There is still a culture problem in the NHS when it comes to dealing with Trans Patients 4. Most Transsexual patients suffer long drawn out battles to receive treatment they deserve access to. Conference Further Believes: 1. The NHS has continued to fight to limit access to healthcare services for Trans patients even since the courts ordered them to provide a service. 2. Refusal to see Trans patients as anything other than under the mental health care remit continues to stigmatise Trans patients despite recent developments in research into the biology of Transsexual patients. 3. New procedures and surgical techniques for Transsexual patients still take too long to arrive in the NHS with other countries healthcare systems providing a greater level of expertise in Trans healthcare. 4. GPs continue to be in the dark when it comes to Trans patients often turning them away, being unhelpful and showing prejudice in their treatment. 5. Waiting lists for access to treatment for Transsexual patients in the UK are still too long with funding often been refused causing long drawn out funding battles leading to increased risks of suicide and people being forced into the private sector. Conference Resolves: 1. To lobby the government to improve health care for all Trans patients 2. To work with the current Trans healthcare providers to further improve their service 3. To campaign for greater education of Transgender during doctors medical training 4. To lobby national PCTS to ensure their GPs as front line healthcare providers are “Trans Aware” and up to date on reading the NHS’ own Trans information for healthcare workers publications.

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5. To campaign against the members of the DSM review committee currently reviewing Transsexuality as a psychiatric condition listed in the manual due to two of the members being “Transphobic” Motion Number: 416 Motion Heading: Why we are part of NUS LGBT. Conference believes: 1. That the NUS Black Students’ Campaign has run a recent poster campaign highlighting the existing inequalities faced by their students today. This consists of listing commonly-held beliefs that are racist, and that these are a major reason for having a Black Students’ Campaign. 2. There still exists inequalities affecting LGBT students and LGBT people in general, through society’s misguided preconceptions. Conference further believes: 1. That people, both LGBT and non-LGBT believe that LGBT equality has been achieved. As an example: “gay equality has been achieved you fucking idiot” (letter received by LGBT Councillor for Sheffield Union). 2. That such opinion may be better informed by having a campaign in which common misconceptions made towards LGBT people and the inequalities they still face are made clear.

Conference resolves: 1. To design and distribute a poster campaign for NUS LGBT along similar lines to the aforementioned NUS Black Students’ Poster Campaign. Motion Number: 417 Motion Heading: All Hail the Icelandic Chief Lesbian! Conference Resolves: 2. To write to Johanna Sigurdardottir congratulating her on her election and appointment as prime minister of Iceland. 3. Publicise her premiership, as the first openly lesbian or gay world leader. 4. To invite her to attend Conference 2010 as our honoured guest and make her Honorary President of the LGBT Campaign. Motion Number: 418 Motion Heading: Civil Partnerships are Civil Conference deplores the was that the continued denial of the validity of Civil Partnerships and the use of the excuse of religion by alleged Christians is tantamount to gay bashing and continued bigotry. Civil Partnerships are civil ceremonies devoid, like civil weddings, of religion and mysticism and are designed to enable Gay men and Gay women to have their loving relationships registered in the public sphere.

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Conference Resolves: 1. To congratulate the London Borough of Islington for taking a stand against bigotry in its provision of services particularly in the Registration Services and in ending the contract of Lillian Ladele 2. To deplore the fact that the Christian Institute is using the case of Ms Ladele and supporting her case to the Court of Appeal in an attempt to engineer legalisation of religious bigotry into law. Motion Number: 419 Motion Heading: LGBT and Homophobia in Africa Conference believes: 1. That homophobia from the African continent is on the increase and more and more LGBT people, most young LGBT persons between the age of 17-35 face homophobic attack at an early age 2. That many LGBT persons from Africa see an escape to Europe as an alternative to a better life and an escape from early death which includes suicide and death threat. 3. That religion has been used as a tool to discriminate against LGBT people in Africa and this has helped family reject and denounced their sons and daughters. 4. That Politician in Countries like Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe have used anti LGB issue to win votes 5. That HIV treated in Africa does not include LGBT people; most times they are persecuted and jailed instead of being treated. Conference resolves: 1. To campaign against homophobia in Africa by starting an NUS LGBT campaign against anti gay activist in Africa 2. Lobby parliament to stop AID to anti gay government in Africa 3. Lobby parliament to lobby African countries sign up to the UN charter on Human and Gay rights 4. To campaign that HIV treatment in Africa should be non discriminatory. 5. To lobby the parliament that HIV/AIDS funding should be given to Countries who have non discriminatory policy based on sexuality. 6. To lobby parliament and foreign Embassy in the UK to do more to promote tolerance for LGBT people in Africa Motion Number: 420 Motion Heading: The Home Office – A Beacon of Homophobia? Conference believes: 1. That the removal of LGBT asylum seekers in the UK to countries of persecution is unfair and unjust 2. That it is the responsibility of the Home Office to protect people who are in danger and vulnerable 3. That fleeing ones family, friend and background is most times not the best options

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4. That returning vulnerable people back to countries without protective laws is like sending them to death 5. That the Home office has shown little or no understanding of issues affecting LGBT people around the world that the indiscriminate return of LGBT people is a violation of their human rights Conference resolved: 1. That there should be campaign around the homophobic attitude Home office 2. That the should be an over hauling of the asylum system to reflect the present situation on anti LGBT campaign going on around the world 3. That the Home office should revisit on policy on safe countries and unsafe countries when it comes to LGBT 4. that there should be a classification for LGBT issues on the asylum policy 5. That cases rejected on the ground of unstained evidence should be reviewed by the home office 6. That the Home office should stop deporting LGBT people back to hostile and homophobic countries 7. To lobby parliament to change asylum law and policy as it affect LGBT people 8. To lobby that parliament that returning LGBT people back to hostile and homophobic countries is a violation of their Human rights 9. That the Home office should train and retrain its asylum team around LGBT issues and current issues around the world. Motion Number: 421 Motion Heading: Donation Not Discimination Conference believes: 1. 2. 3. 4.

In the UK someone receives blood every 30 seconds 2,000 blood donations are needed per week The NHS are in constant need for donors to save lives Men who have had sex with another man and women who have had sex with a man who has had sex with another man are forbidden from donating their blood regardless of whether or not safe sex was practised. 5. All blood is screened for infection. 6. Men who have had sex with another man and women who have had sex with a man who has had sex with another man can donate organs. 7. The Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust have overturned their ban on Gay and Bisexual Men from joining their register. 8. People who have engaged in unsafe heterosexual sexual acts are free to donate after 12 months. 9. 0.00001% of blood donated is infected with HIV/AIDS. 2/3 of which comes from heterosexuals. 10. Last month, after a two year policy review, Stonewall called for an end to the blood ban. 11. In March the National Blood Service announced a review of its current policy, to be conducted in July 2009. Conference further believes:

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1. When questioning for eligibility for blood donors, questions regarding gender of one's partner should be replaced with questions regarding high risk activity. 2. Archaic rules such as these serve only to re-enforce the stereotype that HIV/AIDS is a "gay-disease." Conference resolves: 1. To continue to lobby the NHSBT, highlighting the obsolete and irrational ruling that both discriminates and prevents potentially life-saving blood transfusions, with a view to overturning the ban and allowing the LGBT community to augment vital work. 2. To publicly applaud groups such as The Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust and Stonewall for supporting a progressive protocol. 3. To work with Stonewall to put pressure on the relevant bodies. 4. To renew NUS policy and commitment to Donation not Discrimination.

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Zone 500: Education Zone Motion Number: 501 Motion Heading: Academy Schools: Education is a Right not a Doctrine Conference Believes: 1. Whilst many of our members may not agree with the principle of Academy Schools, which are state schools operating outside of the Local Education Authority direct control, it is necessary for us as a Campaign to promote ethical Academies as a leading provider of higher education in London. 2. UCL is the main partner in the “UCL Academy” in Camden, and this has sparked some controversy at UCL. 3. Birkbeck College has previously looked at an Academy partnership in and around the London Borough of Newham, working with the local further education institutions. 4. Our mission is to provide higher education regardless of race, sex, gender, class, sexuality, faith and disability. However, there are many worrying reports that rich businesses and business owners are pumping millions of pounds into Academies with the proviso that they can control some aspects of the curriculum. 5. Many Boards of Governors put aside their ethics when faced with a mouthwatering multi-million pound injection of cash into their schools. 6. Whilst there have been many public discussion about the role of (mainstream) faith organisations in Academy Schools (such as local mosques, Church of England etc), when criticisms come that some sections of society are reluctant to have faith and education formally linked in the State Sector, supporters of faith in Academy Schools accuse the critics of radical secularism or even religious discrimination. 7. As a Campaign, we must allow our members to continue to have these debates and discussions free from silencing by pressure groups and interested parties. 8. Also, as a Campaign, we must promote the positive role that higher education institutions can and must play in Academy Schools, supporting the UCL Academy. Conference Resolutions: 1. To support the UCL Academy. 2. To encourage other higher education institutions to engage in fruitful partnerships to run Academy Schools in London and nationwide. Motion Number: 502 Motion Heading: No Compromise on Free Education Conference Believes: 1. That after years of underfunding for post-16 education, the Government brought in tuition fees and then top-up fees and this academic year could see the lifting of the £3,000 cap on university tuition fees. 2. In a recent survey two thirds of Vice Chancellors wanted an increase in fees between £4,000 and £20,000 per year.

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3. That students face soaring costs of living and student debt and poverty are already spiralling. 4. That the market dominates our education system from school to college to university. 5. That NUS LGBT Campaign has a policy to campaign for free education and universal grants voted through at the last conference. All the NUS liberation campaigns now have free education policy Conference further believes: 1. Higher Education has transformed the lives of huge numbers of LGBT people, often giving them a chance to meet other LGBT people and come out about their sexuality in a setting far more appealing than the places in which they have been brought up. 2. One in four LGBT people between the ages of 18-25 are at some stage emotionally and financially estranged from their parents, an astronomically higher ratio than the national average. LGBT students thus continue to be discriminated against by the current means-testing system of education funding. 3. Many LGBT students who receive no financial support from their parents for their education as a result of being open about their sexuality are nevertheless unable to seek additional funding through claiming estrangement. 4. Forcing students to be financially dependent on their parents furthermore means that many LGBT students who do receive financial support from their parents face an added financial pressure to hide their sexuality. Such pressure flies in the face of any move toward a more progressive and equal society. 5. That a competitive market is being created in education which will result in well funded universities open only to students who can afford it and poorly funded universities to those who can’t. 6. The only way of overcoming these problems is the reinstatement of universal grants, funded through progressive taxation and a re-prioritisation of government resources. 7. Arguing against means-testing does not let the rich ‘off the hook’ any more than arguing against means-tested access to healthcare: wealthy parents should not only have to pay for their own children’s education, but should fund the education system for society as a whole. Conference resolves: 1. To reaffirm our commitment to campaign for non-means tested, universal grants for all students, highlighting why this is particularly important for LGBT access to Higher Education. 2. To campaign for universal grants as part of a campaign for free education for all, and to do everything possible to fight for this position in the NUS as a whole, ensuring that the needs of LGBT students are at the forefront of national debate.

Motion Number: 503

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Motion Heading: Fitness to Study Conference Believes: 1. Fitness to Study policies are designed by academic administrators to enable an institution to deal with situations which may not be appropriately dealt with by other policies, such as the Disciplinary Policy. 2. There are some shocking examples of poor Fitness to Study policies in the UK, notably the central University of London and Liverpool John Moores. These policies directly relate mental health issues with contagious diseases, which is totally unacceptable. 3. Over time many people will experience changes in their mental health and their mental architecture. 4. Providing positive support and 21st Century welfare services, as well as supporting and promoting mental health campaigns, alleviates stigmas from people who have mental health changes. 5. Disproportionately, LGBT students experience higher levels of depression and occurrence within the LGBT community is as much as four times higher for depression that the straight community. 6. Exclusion of a student on the grounds of not being “fit to study” must be a last resort when dealing with a person’s disability, not a convenient route of choice. Conference Resolves: 1. Work with the NUS Disabled Students Campaign and mental health charities to refine proposed Fitness to Study policies in line with the Beliefs. 2. Oppose any tribunals or hearings under any Fitness to Study policy which is not required to produce evidence and/or is geared to avoiding the Disciplinary Policy, when this would be more appropriate. 3. Mandate the Committee to source an independent assessment of proposed Fitness to Study policies with regards to equality impact, particularly with respect to disability, sexuality and gender identity.

Motion Number: 504 Motion Heading: Kicking McDonald’s out of Education Conference believes: 1. Marketisation of Education is not only about how much we pay for our qualifications; it is increasingly about the content of our courses as well. 2. In February 2008 the Government announced that it would be granting powers to three companies to award qualifications equivalent to GCSE’s A Levels and Degrees. 3. The three companies are Network Rail, Flybe and McDonalds 4. In September 2007 the DIUS announced that it would financially sanction a narrow range of courses which it considers societally useful. Conference Further Believes:

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1. This government agenda is not about widening participation, it is a smokescreen to protect the ongoing marketisation agenda. 2. It is appalling that McDonalds is one of the first companies to be allowed to grant qualifications. 3. The government is giving a veneer of acceptability to McDonalds when the reality is that McDonalds block unionisation of their staff, build workers into poverty and negatively impact on the environment. 4. McDonalds aggressively market to children (even sponsoring schools in the USA), and children are extremely vulnerable advertising. 5. McDonalds and other unethical companies are not worthy of dictating the content of our qualifications. 6. Universities have a proud history of being safe havens for debate, free thought and exploration of ideas. However, the ELQ cuts, now in force, attack all courses and all students, disproportionately negatively affecting LGBT students, women and Black students: creating barriers which we have fought so hard to destroy. 7. The global recession requires the HE sector more now than ever to open its doors to new and current students re-skilling, up-skilling, returning to the 'traditional' workplace after giving their family the best possible start in life with full-time 'unpaid' homemaking work. 8. Private companies beholden to shareholders and the 'bottom line' must be kept out of education, and be prevented from conning a generation of students into poverty and mass-debt by corporate-written and privately-profit designed degrees. Conference Resolves: 1. To campaign for McDonalds to stripped of qualification award granting powers, and launch a stickering campaign to warn against "greasy education". 2. Expel McDonald’s from the NUS Extra Card. 3. To organise a national demonstration against the marketisation of education in 2009. 4. To picket the government departments of DIUS and DCSF on 'poverty education' caused by marketisation. Motion Number: 505 Motion Heading: Re-igniting the Fight for our Education! Conference believes 1. That Education has been a priority of the Campaign this year. Our work has been focussed around; financial access to education, the course environment and LGBT representation. 2. That, among other activities, our work has included – Mobilising hundreds of students to lobby their MPs to take action on estrangement Feeding into NUS’ Alternative Funding Model, ensuring the LGBT voice was heard Supporting the National Demonstration for Free Education Engaging with our sector partners and steering the Equality Challenge Unit’s research into the experiences of over 4000 LGBT staff and students in Higher Education.

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3.

4. 5. 6.

7.

Initiating a “Liberating the Curriculum” workshop tour Supporting LGBT students running in students’ union elections That as a result of the mass lobbying undertaken by LGBT students across the country, it is now a reality that all Student Loans Company case workers have mandatory estrangement training That the ECU research has shown many issues that LGBT students face, such as – Students taking time out of their course due to problems/discrimination related to them being LGBT– 20% of LGB students, 29% of Trans students Estranged students, or students receiving no financial support from their parents due to them being LGBT – 8% of LGB students, 16% of Trans students Students been treated negatively because they are LGBT – 50% of LGB students by other students, 10% by tutors, 47% of Trans students by other students, 29% by tutors

Conference further believes 1. That whilst we have had a win with the SLC, this is just the start of our reform of the estrangement process in this country. 2. That LGBT people, themes and topics are often lacking in school, further education and higher education curricula 3. That as well as LGBT issues, the curriculum continues to ignore black, women and disabled histories and issues. Conference resolves 1. To keep our Education work as a priority for 2009/10 2. To produce an area online where LGBT students can easily obtain all the relevant information about our work in this area 3. To continue to push for the recommendations laid out in our Evaluating Estrangement Report (2008) 4. To continue to run the ‘Liberating the Curriculum’ workshops across the UK, and to use the experiences and results of these to feed into more work in this important area 5. To engage with the other Liberation campaigns on ‘Liberating the Curriculum’, with the aim of potentially rolling this campaign out as guidance for students’ unions. 6. To continue to support LGBT students running in students’ union elections 7. To work with the NUS education zone in helping students’ unions to recognise the importance of diverse opinions on course rep committees, and support LGBT students running for course rep 8. To work with the NUS Vice-President (Further Education) and Vice-President (Higher Education) on our Education work this year and feed into the programmes and content of the Further Education and Higher Education Zone Conferences in 2010. Motion Number: 506 Motion Heading: Burgess Report – Accrediting the Achievements of our Activists Conference Believes

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1. That NUS were involved in and supported the recommendations of the Burgess Report on Higher Education qualifications 2. That more must be done to help LGBT graduates articulate their experiences and skills gained outside of their academic study when choosing new career or progression paths. Conference Further Believes 1. That progression and significant steps towards a new transcript that helps portray students' achievements is crucial to ensure that employers recognise the skills that our activists have gained in non-formal learning 2. That the skills earned from non-formal learning is through, campaigning and representation and events delivered by our LGBT activists Conference Resolves 1. To work with the Higher Education campaign to ensure that the voices of our activists are heard when the reforms of the system take place. 2. To ensure LGBT representation is fought for on all Burgess working groups and reform groups. 3. That an LGBT Working Group is set up with activists and officers from different regions sitting on it, to share best practice and ideas of how to move forward in light of these reforms

Motion Number: 507 Motion Heading: Liberating the curriculum Conference Believes: 1. There are still inherent inequalities within society, and University should be a place to address and tackle this. 2. The curriculum which a student studies whilst they are at University has an important bearing on their perception of the subject area that they study. 3. The experience a student has whilst at University, both academic and otherwise, can often have a significant impact on their own personal development. 4. Curriculum is often slow to change, and often based on a historic collection of texts and sources that have always been used. 5. The slowness of curriculum to change often leads to a stereotypical texts and sources being used. 6. That LGBT, women, black and disabled authors are under-represented in the UK curriculum. 7. It is important that the curriculum should represent an appropriate balance of the society we live in, and should be based on academic merit. Conference Resolves: 1. That an active campaign is run to investigate how the curriculum can be modernised to more appropriately represent the society that we live in. 2. That the LGBT campaign should work with the Vice President (Higher Education) and the Women’s, Black Students and Disabled Students campaign

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to deliver a campaign which can be run by LGBT societies and Students’ Unions to proactively work toward updating University curriculum.

Motion Number: 508 Motion Heading: Gender identities and equal opportunities monitoring Conference believes: 1. That almost all applications for undergraduate courses in the UK are run by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). 2. That UCAS currently only recognises the genders male and female. 3. That many students applying through UCAS identify outside the male / female dichotomy. 4. That many universities and colleges base their monitoring data on the data provided by UCAS and, for consistency, maintain these categories throughout a student’s period of study. Conference further believes: 1. That this narrow definition of gender disenfranchises those who do not identify as male or female. 2. That universities do not identify or monitor other genders because UCAS do not. 3. That trans students are not included in equal opportunities monitoring. 4. That we are missing vital information about the experiences of trans students at university because of this. Conference resolves: 1. To lobby UCAS to broaden their definition of gender. 2. To lobby universities to do the same, regardless of whether UCAS makes the change or not. 3. To lobby universities to include all trans students - those who identify within the male/female binary and those who don't - in equal opportunities monitoring. Motion Number: 509 Motion Heading: Bin the Broke and Broken Funding System Conference Believes: 1. That the forthcoming fees review will be critical in determining the future of the higher education system across the whole of the UK. 2. The analysis of the current system set out in NUS' publication 'Broke and Broken' demonstrates why this system must not be allowed to continue and needs a major overhaul by government. 3. That while some politicians and vice-chancellors want to see an increase in top-up fees, the 2009 review presents the student movement with an opportunity to halt them in their tracks and fight for a fairer alternative. Conference Further Believes:

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1. That while the extra investment of £100m to fund grants for poorer students is welcome, the forthcoming cuts in grants for students whose families earn between £50k-60k is a disgraceful cut that will leave thousands of students in greater hardship. 2. That the UK lags behind other OECD countries in the amount of public money it commits to higher education, currently spending only 0.9% of GDP. 3. That any increase in top-up fees in England will negatively impact on Scottish Institutions and students. 4. If the cap is lifted in England, either: a. There will be a huge influx of English students studying in Scotland, which will make Scottish institutions less accessible, and there will be an even larger funding gap between Scottish and English institutions; or b. Fees, at a similar level to England, will have to be introduced in Scotland to fund universities. Conference Resolves: 1. To oppose any increase or lifting of the cap and the marketisation of our education system. 2. To campaign for the expansion of the grants system and a national student support system to ensure that students get support based on what they need, not where they study. 3. To put part-time student funding at the heart of our campaign around the 09 review. 4. To demand NUS representation on the 2009 review group and maximise participation from students in submitting evidence to the review. 5. To ensure that the NUS LGBT Campaign is fully involved in national action throughout the year to maximise student activism and awareness in the run up to the 2009 review. 6. To support putting education funding at the heart of NUS' campaign during the General Election and demand a real debate with the public from the major parties. 7. To lobby the government to provide ‘World Class Funding’ for higher education by increasing the amount it spends on higher education by 0.2% of GDP, in order to meet the OECD average figure of 1.1% of GDP. 8. To continue to support and campaign for a free, fair and funded education system. Motion Number: 510 Motion Heading: Trans Awareness in our Education Conference believes: 1. That in 2005 NUS LGB Campaign became NUS LGBT Campaign in acknowledgment of the historic shared discrimination that lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people have faced within society. 2. That society still has a misunderstood and stereotypical view of trans people. 3. That medical professionals are often ill informed about trans people and this further inhibits trans people’s access to medical care. 4. That there are major differences in the law protecting LGB and Trans people

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5. That Westminster parliament continues to use a limiting definition relating to Trans people in legislation, only protecting some Transsexual people in law 6. Students outside of LGBT and even some LGB students are often unaware of Trans issues and suffer from misunderstandings of Trans terminology caused by inaccurate media representations. 7. Many student unions/guilds have very little displayed information on Trans people. Conference further believes: 1. That Transgender Rights in terms of awareness is still behind that of LGB rights. 2. Medical students and students in general often go through university without ever receiving information on Transgender 3. The recent consultation report prior to drafting of the new single equality act shows the governments lack of awareness of Transgender issues by proposing excluding non transsexual transgender people from protection within it. 4. Student Unions/guilds often lack information and support in promoting Trans issues and equality. 5. Transgender often gets over shadowed by campaigns for LGB Conference resolves: 1. To promote an annual student Trans awareness day across all Universities 2. To further promote the inclusion of Trans awareness into specific course specifications at university where it would be most appropriate for example medicine and psychology. 3. To provide more information for Student Unions/Guilds on Trans issues and equality 4. To encourage more outside workshops on Trans issues into universities 5. Promote outward thinking Trans specific awareness campaigns promoting awareness outside of LGBT. Motion Number: 511 Motion Heading: Against Means Testing Conference believes: 1. At previous LGBT conferences opponents of universal grants claimed that “Universal grants for all would cost over £35 BILLION POUNDS PER YEAR – THIS IS MORE THAN THE COST OF THE ENTIRE SECONDARY EDUCATION SYSTEM!” 2. The above claim is a complete fabrication. There are currently 2,310,000 students studying in UK universities. The cost of a universal grant for every one of these students of £6,000 per year (on top of inflation-linked student loans) would be £13,860,000,000 a year (£13.86bn). 3. This amounts to around one eighth of the cost to the taxpayer of the £110bn given to bail out the Northern Rock bank. Conference further believes:

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1. Higher Education has transformed the lives of huge numbers of LGBT people, often giving them a chance to meet other LGBT people and come out about their sexuality in a setting far more appealing than the places in which they have been brought up 2. One in four LGBT people between the ages of 18-25 are at some stage emotionally and financially estranged from their parents, an astronomically higher ratio than the national average. LGBT students thus continue to be discriminated against by the current means-testing system of education funding. 3. Many LGBT students who receive no financial support from their parents for their education as a result of being open about their sexuality are nevertheless unable to seek additional funding through claiming estrangement. 4. Even those students who might at present be eligible to receive funding through claiming estrangement are put off doing so as a result of LGBT oppression within society. 5. Students should not have to disclose their reasons for estrangement (especially in the event of LGBT oppression) when applying for student financial support. 6. Forcing post-18 students to be financially dependent on their parents furthermore means that many LGBT students who do receive financial support from their parents face an added financial pressure to hide their sexuality. Such pressure flies in the face of any move toward a more progressive and equal society. 7. LGBT students may be delayed from beginning their university education because of the length and distress of the process of proving estrangement, or may not begin at all because of the costs involved. In addition, students who become estranged during the academic year cannot reapply for further funding to reflect their change in circumstance. 8. The only way of overcoming these problems is the reinstatement of universal grants, funded through progressive taxation and a re-prioritisation of government resources. 9. Arguing against means-testing does not let the rich ‘off the hook’ any more than arguing against means-tested access to healthcare: wealthy parents should not only have to pay for their own son’s/daughter’s education, but should fund the education system for society as a whole. Conference resolves: 1. To campaign for non-means tested, universal grants for all students, highlighting why this is particularly important for LGBT access to Higher Education. 2. To campaign for universal grants as part of a campaign for free education for all, and to do everything possible to fight for this position in the NUS as a whole, ensuring that the needs of LGBT students are at the forefront of national debate. Motion Number: 512 Motion Heading: A Safer Future for LGBT Youth Conference Believes:

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1. 65% of young lesbian, gay, and bisexual pupils in the UK have experienced direct bullying in schools (Stonewall estimates that up to 60,000 schoolchildren are the victims of homophobic bullying). Approximately 1 in 3 young LGBT people in the UK self harm or attempt suicide. 2. There are an estimated 450,000 gay and lesbian pupils in schools. One in four secondary school teachers report that they are aware of physical homophobic bullying, yet only 6 per cent of schools have policies that address the problem. 3. Every Child Matters (2003) and The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (1991) state that All public authorities that work with children, including state schools, have a legal duty to ensure all children are treated in a rights respecting way. This includes the right to be free from violence, abuse or neglect (Article 19), the right to an education that develops your full personality and talents (Articles 28 and 29) 4. The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation Regulations) [2007] Section 13 says that all students have an equal right to education, regardless of their real or perceived sexual orientation. 5. Research done in 2001 by the University of York has shown that gay pupils with six GCSEs are more likely than heterosexual students to leave school at 16. Conference Further Believes: 1. That such bullying cannot continue. 2. That education is a key method of combating prejudice, and increasing awareness of LGBT issues among young people is not only a step towards making schools safer places to be for LGBT school students, but would have a knock-on effect of creating a more inclusive local community in which LGBT HE and FE students feel comfortable living. 3. That LGBT awareness workshops in schools, such as those run by the University of Manchester, have been well-received and successful. Conference Resolves: 1. To encourage both HE and FE institutions to forge links with local schools and assist them in combating homophobic bullying in whatever way possible. 2. To support those FE colleges with established links to local schools in running awareness campaigns in their own institutions as well as advertising them to the schools with which they are linked. 3. To create a central anti-homo/bi/transphobia resource package that LGBT groups could use to run workshop days in school.

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Zone 600: Emergency Motions (if any)

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