Tatchell highlights continuing gay inequality
01 August 2009
Speaking at a Green Party public meeting at the Branksome Arms pub in Bournemouth on Wednesday night (29 July), gay equality campaigner and Green Party human rights spokesperson, Peter Tatchell, highlighted issues discrimination still faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
He told the meeting:
"There is still a ban on same-sex civil marriage. Instead of repealing this discrimination, the government has reinforced and extended it. Civil partnerships are for lesbian and gay couples only. Straights are banned. Conversely, marriage remains reserved for heterosexuals, to the exclusion of LGBT people. Two wrongs don't make a right. In addition, gay-supportive churches that want to conduct civil partnerships are prohibited by law from doing so.
"The Greens are the only party that supports an end to the ban on same-sex marriage. We want marriage equality. This means giving lesbian and gay couples the right to marry in a registry office, just like heterosexual couples.
"The current Equality Bill is supposed to harmonise the uneven patchwork of equality legislation, to create a common framework of equal rights law. It doesn't. Harassment based on sexual orientation is explicitly exempted. This exemption applies to schools. They will have no legal obligation to prevent the harassment of LGBT pupils, despite the pandemic of homophobic bullying. In addition, Labour says faith schools will be allowed to promote their own religious values, which often include negative, anti-gay teachings.
"The government and the National Blood Service support the policy of automatically banning all gay and bisexual blood donors for life, regardless of their current sexual behaviour and HIV status. This is an irrational, bigoted ban. Most gay and bisexual men do not have HIV and will never have HIV. Those who have only safe sex and who test HIV negative can give blood safely. Banning them is contributing to the shortfall in blood donations.
"Successive Labour Home Secretaries have given visas and work permits to Jamaican reggae singers, like Buju Banton, who incite the murder of lesbian and gay people. Inciting murder is a serious criminal offence. Yet these singers are allowed to come to Britain, while the leader of the US Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, has been banned from Britain for two decades. I may disagree with his views, but he has never incited violence against anyone. Why the double standards?
"The government, police and Crown Prosecution Service permit record stores and radio stations to promote songs by these singers that encourage the killing of LGBTs. Neither Labour nor Tory ministers would tolerate similar "murder music" against Jewish or black people. Why aren't lesbian and gay people receiving the same legal protection against incitements to kill them?
"The Home Office often refuses asylum to LGBT refugees, many of whom have been jailed and tortured in countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jamaica, Iran and Uganda. The Home Office says they won't be at risk if they go back home, hide their sexuality and stop having gay relationships. It never makes such onerous demands on political, religious or ethnic refugees," said Mr Tatchell.
The South-West LGBT coordinator Ryan Cleminson said "To have Peter visit Bournemouth was a great honour and It was a very interesting debate and talk and I thank him for coming".
Further information:
Peter Tatchell 0207 403 1790
peter@petertatchell.net
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