Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically exposed the structural inequalities in our society. Where there is poverty, prejudice and discrimination, the virus has left a trail of broken lives in its wake and we will not rest until those divides have been closed. It is women, young, disabled, LGBT+ and Black workers who have borne the biggest health and economic risks from the crisis.
 
“As well as being a physical health crisis we all know that the pandemic is a mental health emergency, with an unequal impact on the LGBT+ community. For far too many LGBT+ workers, their experience of the world of work continues to be marred by hostility, stigma and unfair treatment. Many already felt the need to hide their sexuality or trans status in the workplace pre-Covid. More feel they must do this now.
 
“The Pandemic has increased their invisibility and left many thousands feeling isolated and alone. The closure of LGBT+ specific spaces, the inability to get together with others in their communities, or their experience of being trapped in households unaccepting or hostile to their identities, this has all taken a heavy toll.
 
“Usdaw campaigns all year round to tackle discrimination. Today, on IDAHOTB, we put the spotlight on homophobia, transphobia and biphobia, standing together with our LGBT+ friend, colleagues and members.”
 
Usdaw LGBT+ campaigning: https://www.usdaw.org.uk/Help-Advice/Equalities/LGBT
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 400,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion