2017 Global unions will be encouraged to take LGBTQI* issues on board In October and early November Public Services International (PSI) had its 30th world congress in Geneva. In conjunction with it, there was a meeting of the PSI/EI LGBT Forum, a joint initiative with Education International. At the PSI congress, a Dutch proposal to encourage all Global Union Federations to start or continue LGBTQI policies and activities got overwhelming support. The PSI board will now act on this. Meanwhile, a working group is under formation, which will consist of union members active in LGBTQI activities and policies. This working group will help the global union staff in its work on LGBTQI (union) rights. In July, we heard the sad news about the death of Colin De la Motte-Sherman. World Pride trade union conference In June, the plans made at the ETUC/ETUI meeting in Brussels were actually realised: the Spanish trade union organisations CCOO (Comisiones Obreras) and UGT (Unión General de Trabajadores)organised, together with the ETUC, a two-day conference under the title "Meeting the rights of LGBTQI* people at the workplace" ("Los derechos de las personas LGBTQI* en el ambito laboral"). More information about this conference can be found here. No report from Miami Beach In May, 2017, in conjunction with the OutGames in Miami Beach (Florida, USA), a conference had been programmed on human rights issues, of which traditionally a trade union track is also a part. However, due to financial problems the sports programme to be cancelled, and the human rights conference had to be limited, too. Meetings did occur, but we have no minutes, recommendations or report. Training course in Brussels The Education Department of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUI) organised a training course on "Combating discrimination - rights for LGBTQI workers" from 21 - 23 February 2017, in Brussels, Belgium. During this course, ideas were launched to organise a LGBTIQ+ meeting of trade union representatives in conjunction with the 2017 World Pride events in Madrid. Meeting in València In January 2017, a delegation of the Dutch Netwerk Roze FNV (Pink Network in the FNV) travelled to Valencià (Spain) for a trade union meeting by the Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) on LGBT rights. Here is a brief report.