BARGAINING LGBTQ EQUITY FOR HEALTH BENEFITS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

WHEREAS, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) people represent an underserved population subject to healthcare disparities; and

WHEREAS, not every local union has the knowledge required to make transgender workers feel safe and respected at its hall and in its workplaces; and

WHEREAS, members of the LGBTQ community experience significant health inequities, with well-documented negative health impacts, including increased risks for chronic disease and mental health concerns; and

WHEREAS, LGBTQ people need to receive equitable health services; and

WHEREAS, 3.8 percent of the U.S. population identify themselves as LGBTQ, amounting to 12 million LGBTQ people who face barriers of access to healthcare in the United States; and

WHEREAS, all people deserve access to safe, high-quality healthcare without fear, and deserve to be treated fairly and respectfully and to be protected from discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers will promote healthcare policies that expressly cover the needs of transgender employees and their dependents and that the AFT will seek to add gender identity and expression definitions to the nondiscrimination clause of all contracts, alongside categories like race, gender and sexual orientation; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will advocate for transgender-inclusive healthcare (as outlined in the standard of care of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health), life insurance and mental health services for its members, members’ partners and members’ dependents during bargaining negotiations with employers; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will accept everyone’s self-professed gender; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will promote inclusive languageregarding gender and sexuality and will advocate for education and training of all healthcare professionals in LGBTQ-competent care; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will make its headquarters a welcoming space for transgender and LGBTQ members and staff and a gender-neutral safe workplace for all staff.