For many within the LGBTQ community, Labor Day is just another three-day holiday weekend, and that’s a shame. Even more of a shame, many within the community have the misconceived idea that “Labor” in the general sense, isn’t supportive of the LGBTQ community. The reality is that labor unions (and many who are a part of what we might refer to as labor et al, are extremely supportive of rights for LGBTQ persons, and one of the things gay, lesbian, bi, trans and queer persons need to do this holiday weekend is be grateful for the ways Labor has helped move our causes forward.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to work with a coalition of labor rights and other organizations to picket the annual Target corporation shareholders meeting. At the time, Target was seen as funding anti-LGBT efforts and our goal was to raise awareness  as well as place pressure on the company for change. This effort as well as others, was successful because today, Target is far more inclusive than it was in the past. Even though this was widely publicized on social media for the LGBTQ community, you could probably count on one hand the number of queer people present. But labor was there, in big numbers. Here were clearly straight guys, carrying picket signs supporting inclusivity, and demanding an end to corporate funding of anti-LGBT efforts. It was the first protest rally I ever spoke at which was predominately straight, and I received thunderous support from the audience. This was just one example of the way Labor has been supportive of our issues.

Since 1994, Pride at Work has been functioning- a group pf LGBT labor union activists within the AFL-CIO, and the linked wikipedia page highlights the history of connection between LGBTQ and Labor.

In my opinion, we need to be reaching out and supporting labor while looking for labor’s support today more than ever before. One of the biggest LGBTQ issue that remains elusive, is workplace non-discrimination protections, and this is an area where we could use labor’s support. At the same time, the middle-class has been hard hit and harmed by a number of factors and labor needs our support to keep fighting for equitable pay, and secure employment. Non-discrimination is at the core, an economic issue, just as so many of labor’s issues are.

But queer demands from labor will go unanswered if we, as the LGBTQ movement fail to “walk the walk” when it comes to inclusivity and support. Here in the Pittsburgh, the Delta Foundation, the group responsible for P{ride activities, fails to use union labor to manage their stages, yet seeks out money and support from labor. This type of exploitation harms the relationship between the LGBTQ community and labor.

This Labor Day, make a point to explore labor issue and see what you can do to be supportive.