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Congress, Billy Hayes, TUC, moving our amendments to the Congress statement on LGBTI rights.

Congress, our amendment to the statement, and our amendment to the framework of action on realising rights that backs it up, is about solidarity.

That's why I am calling for action by all of us to defend the rights of our brothers and sisters from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex communities.

It's not about how people are born, who they love, or how they dress. And it's certainly nothing to do with what people do in their own bedrooms.

It's about respect. It's about rights. It's about unity.

A good friend of ours spoke earlier this week about how, in the 1980s, in Britain, during the miners' strike, LGBTI groups gave them support. Now I don't know about coal miners in your country, but in ours they have a certain image.

So it was beyond impressive when the National Union of Mineworkers turned up, to return the favour so to speak, at a London Gay Pride March a few years later.

In the 30 years since that strike, LGBTI communities' lives have changed out of all recognition. In some countries.

But they still face discrimination even where we've achieved formal legal equality, and there is still an awful lot to do.

So this is the next step. The ITUC has expressed support for LGBTI members before, but we've got to do more than just say the words, we've got to do the deeds.

That's why we're calling on all of you ... on all of you ... to stand up, speak out and show solidarity with ALL of your members. Gay or straight, black or white, women or men.

Will it be difficult? Yes.

Will it require bravery? Yes.

But is it the right thing to do regardless? Also yes.

Let's not just do the easy bit, Congress. Pass this amendment and start the hard work of showing practical solidarity with LGBTI members.

I move.

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