Identity politics and trade unions: The case of sexual minorities in Australia.’ Paper presented to

From its beginnings, the lesbian and gay movement in Australia has recognised the importance of institutional politics. This has led to significant interaction with the labour movement. Policy development within trade unions culminated in time for a considered response to the public health crisis of HIV/AIDS in the mid-1980’s. This policy development also influenced state law reform activity. Through the 1980’s and 1990’s, reform of the various Crimes Acts and the promulgation of anti-discrimination legislation in the states largely took place under Labor governments. Rather than being irrelevant to sexual minorities, trade unions, particularly those on the ideological Left and those representing white collar workers, have taken identity politics into the institutional arena