Pride update
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 128 No 8, 2 November 2023, page no. 20
QTU Pride Committee
As we come to the end of our second year as a standing committee, the focus of the Pride Committee has been on enhancing the visibility of our LGBTIQ+ members, and on supporting the LGBTIQ+ students that our members teach.
The QTU Pride Committee is made up of 15 elected rank and file members. The committee meets once per term and discusses QTU policy and a range of issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community – including visibility initiatives.
Being LGBTQ+ isn’t a choice, a lifestyle, or a passing phase. It is being who we are and loving who we do – in spite of it all – all the barriers, the ignorance, the othering, and the bigoted legislation. So, today and every day, the QTU Pride Committee invites you to be courageous, to stand up against the current media climate and be a present and visible ally. If you’d like to stay up to date, please join our Pride Action Network.
Pride March
On Saturday 23 September, QTU officers joined with unionists from across the movement and the queer community to celebrate Brisbane Pride and stand in solidarity with the LGBTIQ+ community.
QTU members participated in the march to Musgrave Park and joined with other unionists at the Union Pride stall run by the Queensland Council of Unions (QCU).
There were conversations about current QTU and QCU campaigns, including the push for the public sector policy to be inclusive of an LGBTIQ+ diversity group. It was a day filled with rainbows, fairy floss and fun.
We hope to have even more members join us next year.
QCU Pride Awards
On behalf of the QTU Pride Committee, I am pleased to announce that QTU acting First Nations Officer and LGBTQ+ activist Emerson Zerafa-Payne received the inaugural Outstanding Activist Award at the QCU Pride Awards.
Emerson is a First Nations man, secondary school teacher, Queensland Teachers’ Union activist, PhD candidate, lecturer and current acting QTU First Nations Officer. Emerson has been instrumental in advocating for trans inclusion, relevant policy changes and raising awareness of the role brother boys and sister girls play in First Nations lore.
Over the course of 2022-2023, Emerson’s passion for trans rights has resulted in:
- a presentation at the NSWTF Diversity in Education Conference as part of Sydney WorldPride
- the writing of gender affirmation leave provisions into QTU policy
- advocacy and education for Gandju Jarjum, the QTU’s First Nations Committee, to recognise and include brother boys and sister girls in QTU policy
- advocacy for the progress flag to replace the non-inclusive rainbow flag in Union communications (including advocating for the use of Pride instead of Rainbow terminology for the QTU’s standing committee and associated member network)
- creation of a standing item at every QTU Pride Committee meeting to raise awareness of issues facing the trans community, to ensure the QTU stands in solidarity and is united in its support of trans and gender non-conforming teachers, students, and community members.
Emerson is an all-round determined, courageous, and inspirational human being. For all these reasons and more, the QTU recommended Emerson Zerafa-Payne for the inaugural Pride Award for Outstanding Activist.