8 queer people and groups on the picket line in 2023
The labor movement scored historic wins in 2023, and queer and trans people were on the frontlines.
The labor movement scored historic wins in 2023, and queer and trans people were on the frontlines.
From Hollywood to the largest LGBTQ+ organizations in the country, below are 8 queer people and groups on the picket line this year.
Writers Guild of America Trans/Gender Non-Conforming Writers Subcommittee
On May 19, the Writers Guild of America's (WGA) Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Writers Subcommittee organized a Trans Takeover at the picket line, featuring a mini-ball. Community members competed for trophies in categories like Best Sign and Best Pet, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Halo, Equity Strippers Noho
On June 15, strippers union Equity Strippers Noho performed at the WGA picket line to show solidarity. Bearded butch queen dancer Halo supported both unions in his performance at the picket line.
Equity Strippers Noho, formed by workers at Star Garden in North Hollywood, was the first strip club to unionize in nearly 2 decades, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Friends of Trevor United
In April, workers at The Trevor Project, the largest nonprofit organization that supports LGBTQ+ youth, formed a union called Friends of Trevor United with CWA District 1 on April 14 to fight for better pay and working conditions.
The Trevor Project announced layoffs of 12% of its staff three months later, though company representatives told In These Times that the decision had nothing to do with workers' decision to unionize.
Christi Sessa, Starbucks Workers United
On November 16, Starbucks baristas went on strike on Red Cup Day, one of the coffee chain's busiest days of the year marked by the switch to red holiday cups. Over 5,000 workers — including queer and trans employees — participated in what their union, Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) calls Red Cup Rebellion.
On November 27, SBWU featured organizer Christi Sessa to show solidarity for transgender people.
Queer Filmworkers United
On September 26, workers at Outfest, a 41-year-old LGBTQ+ film festival in Los Angeles, formed a union called Queer Filmworkers United (QFU) with CWA Local 9003.
After weeks of organizing, staff members were laid off via email on October 27. Support QFU's fundraiser on GoFundMe to help laid-off workers.
Juliana Kaplan, Insider Union
On April 20, Business Insider announced that it would be laying off 10% of its staff, just weeks after its editor-in-chief said the company planned to incorporate generative AI in the newsroom, according to The Daily Beast.
To fight layoffs, the Insider Union bargained with the company's lawyers for six weeks before going on a 13-day strike, the longest in digital media history.
Senior labor and economy reporter Juliana Kaplan was part of the union's bargaining committee.
Howard Brown Health Workers United
Registered nurses at Howard Brown, the largest LGBTQ healthcare provider in Chicago, went on strike twice this year to raise the minimum wage to $20 per hour, annual cost of living raises, and more.
The union, Howard Brown Health Workers United, called for a boycott of Howard Brown's Brown Elephant thrift and resale stores while they were on strike from January 1 to 3 and November 14 to 15.
Berlin Nightclub union
In March, workers at mainstay nightclub Berlin in Chicago formed a union with UNITE HERE Local 1, Chicagoland's hospitality workers' union. The staff's demands included a raise and health insurance coverage.
Workers went on a two-day strike in August and called for a boycott of the nightclub. On October 26, Berlin announced that it would be closing its doors after 40 years, according to Block Club Chicago.
