VIDEOS: Mighty Gay Unions! Queer and Trans Labor Histories and Futures

Black-and-white line drawing of people on a picket line, holding signs. In the foreground is someone with a big furry hood; words on their sign are not visible. Signs in the background read "Be gay, do strike" and "The union is us!" Background behind the sketch is a purple watercolor oval with subtle pink splatters. Title in rounded black letters: Strike in style. Along the top is the edge of a spiral sketchbook.

Queer and trans workers have long been at the frontlines of solidarity, bridging identities and social movements. In this moving webinar, held online on March 22, we heard powerful highlights from LGBTQIA+ labor history (some illustrated in comics), and heard from workers organizing unions today at Howard Brown Health and Google about how they're building people power against capitalism—and why organizing your workplace is the best way to make friends in your thirties!

This workshop was a reprise and continuation of the very popular Collectively Fabulous panel from the Labor Notes Conference last June. The session was introduced by Alexandra Bradbury (she/her), Labor Notes editor, and moderated by Leigh Howard (she/her) of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.

The webinar presentations are broken out in three separate videos, each embedded below. The question-and-answer session is not included. But here is a list of sources and resources the panelists put together—check it out to learn more about the history described as well as present-day campaigns and how you can help.

1. History Slideshow

Presenters:

  • Annabelle Heckler (she/her), labor research, strategy, and comics
  • Gerry Scoppettuolo (he/him), Pride at Work Boston chapter, labor historian

2. Alphabet Workers Union (Google workers)

Presenter:

  • Auni Ahsan (she/her), Alphabet Workers Union

3. Howard Brown Health Workers United

Presenters:

  • Shakia Flowers (she/her), Illinois Nurses Association, Howard Brown Health striker
  • Julian Modugno (he/they), Illinois Nurses Association, Howard Brown Health striker
  • Andrea Villanueva (she/her), Illinois Nurses Association, Howard Brown Health striker
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