VISIBILITY: Actions, Not Words

I speak not only as a NIPSA member, a NIPSA Representative, a candidate in this NIPSA General Secretary election, but most importantly as a member of the LGBTQI+ community.

Today’s announcement from the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) to withdraw from all Pride celebrations in Northern Ireland this year is completely misjudged, arguably political in nature, and must be condemned by the NIPSA leadership immediately - not in two days time or next week! This underlines the importance and urgency of reform of internal processes to keep pace with today’s news cycle.

Statements from the Rainbow Project and Belfast Pride rightly state that Pride means different things to different people but fundamentally it is “about human rights, equality, and the celebration of diversity - principles that should be core to any modern, inclusive public service, rather than viewed as a partisan or political stance”.

The NICS position is cowardice, running scared of criticism from regressive attitudes from a minority opinion. Furthermore, this decision is a political decision that could be argued that it is bringing the NICS into disrepute. Far from upholding the civil service value of impartiality it is actually now taking a political position on a non-political issue of equality and diversity. It has only been brought into the political sphere by those that used to preach about upholding ‘traditional family values’ and who advocated strongly for the use of the abhorrent and cruel activity of ‘conversion therapy’ that only damaged the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people and adults.

This decision is the beginning of a slippery slope. If this decision stands and is not immediately reversed, then what’s next? The unconscionable position that the NICS no longer sponsors and participates in the annual Belfast Mela event, just because a vocal minority has “immigration concerns”? It’s truly unthinkable.

The question to Jayne Brady, and the Permanent Secretaries Group (PSG), is what does standing up for the rights of their staff actually look like in practice to them? Should they not be demonstrating true leadership by doing what is right and not being swayed by minority political opinion? Supporting LGBTQI+ staff is more than simply words in a policy document, a statement in job adverts, or creating a staff network. To truly embrace equality involves actions. It involves visibility, such as in Pride events and parades and sending a clear message to all staff and the public, that members of the LGBTQI+ community are both valued, respected and welcome as employees and service users.

As an employer, the NICS, by banning Civil Servants from Pride under the NICS banner, gives an appearance that they are embarrassed of their staff, both members of the LGBTQI+ community and allies, and are ashamed to have them be seen as equality ambassadors for workplace LGBTQI+ equality and diversity in public. It is likened to putting staff back ‘in the closet’. Statements made from a cross-section of Northern Ireland have demonstrated the importance of the NICS visibility in Pride as a positive effect on the LGBTQI+ community in having the confidence of accessing public services. To them, it can be a major step and to know that they will not be judged because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

I challenge the NICS leadership to provide evidence to which this decision has been based on. What has changed in the last 12 months legally in Northern Ireland to warrant this disgraceful decision that has angered many NICS LGBTQI+ staff and allies? I also challenge the NIPSA leadership to issue their position as so far the silence has been deafening.