Defend Judith Williams!
Socialist Organiser1982 1982-08-12Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 10 →
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GAY RIGHTS JUDITH WILLIAMS was a house parent in a home for adolescent girls in North Wales. She'd been working there for several months with no complaints from anyone. Then at the end of May she was sacked. She was sacked for being a lesbian.
The organisation who run the home and four others around the country, Care Concern, said that she was 'temperamentally unsound' for the job.
Judith told us:
'A more senior job than the one I was doing came up at the home, and I went to ask Mrs Smith-Jones, my boss, if I could have it. She told me that I didn't have enough experience and I should apply in six months time.
She asked me then if 1 was a lesbian - and I told her 1 was.
Then a week later l was called back to her office and asked if I would resign. I said I wouldn't, and they said I'd be sacked anyway.
• I then went to the senior social worker at the home mingth. who told me it was all too political, and that the only way I could be kept on would be if they treated me as a 'male' member of staff. As it was a home for girls, all were accompanied whenever they met the girls.
They never complained about my work before.
after, on •May 27, 1 got a letter saying шяс canted a "temperamental unsound'. They told me not to come to the home pala me six weeks' money for notice I'd the Gay Social Workers' Group. Thej had a meeting with Gay Rights at Work people, and the campaign to try to get my job back was launched.
We've had tremendous support. Loads of ordinary working class people have sent in the pink cards Laddressed Care Concern, that Judith gets her job back] The best support has beer from NALGO. They passed a resolution of support at their annual conference and have been •blacking Care Concern. Cercee beth teuains to refusing Care Concern homes.
That's been really good . It s what will nit then most. The probation officers have given a lot of support too.
word about Care Concern. It's run by a man called David Rattray, have night clubs instead of children's homes.
Local authorities give £300 a week for the care of each child and Rattray WOl could I make mol dre wit you capitalist for you!!
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Sacked for