Anger at "plans to 'scrap the Equality Act'"

Equalities and human rights activists went into red alert yesterday at alleged plans to “scrap the Equality Act”.

The panic was caused by a Cabinet Office consultation site inviting comments on the Equality Act, citing a range of questions from whether it should be “scrapped” to whether it should be kept as it is.

LGBT History Month co-chair Tony Fenwick said:

“Some reactions have been premature. The Government would look very silly indeed it if it tried to scrap an act it introduced late last year and updated only a week ago.

“That said; there are those who would like to water down parts of the Act. The requirement for public sector organisations to publish details of what they are doing to challenge discrimination and promote equality could be in jeopardy. We need to defend this requirement because it moves the equalities agenda forward and gives the Act the power to bring about change.

“I therefore invite everyone to access the site (address above) and say “Keep the Act as it is”.

Tatchell Reluctantly Withdraws from Election

Peter Tatchell has withdrawn as Green candidate for Oxford East. In a characteristically candid statement, he said that he would not be able to fulfil all the demands of the post, if elected, as a result of brain damage sustained from beatings he received by Mugabe's henchmen, right wing thugs at Moscow Pride and a recent road incident.

"I have postponed making this announcement for several months, in the hope that I might get better and be able to carry on as the Green candidate. Unfortunately, my condition has not improved. If anything, it is worse," he said.

"There is, however, a glimmer of hope for the future. The medical advice is that if I slow down and reduce my workload my condition may improve in a year or so. On the downside, I am unlikely to ever recover fully. Some of the damage is probably permanent.

"I don't regret a thing. Getting a thrashing and brain injuries was not what I had expected or wanted. But I was aware of the risks. Taking risks is sometimes necessary, in order to challenge injustice. My beatings had the positive effect of helping draw international attention to the violent, repressive nature of the Russian and Zimbabwean regimes. I'm glad of that.

"My physical inconveniences are nothing by comparison to the far worse beatings inflicted on human rights defenders in countries like Russia, Iran, Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, Columbia, Sudan and Burma. These heroic activists often end up jailed or dead. I count myself lucky.

"The Oxford Green Party expects to select a new parliamentary candidate in January. That person will have my wholehearted support. I intend to campaign with them during the general election.

"I would like to thank members of Oxford Green Party for their immense kindness, support, and generosity during my two and a half years as their candidate. It has been a pleasure working with the Oxford Greens and I wish them future success."

Queer Question Time @ RVT

ANGELA EAGLE MP, Parliament's only out lesbian, KEN LIVINGSTONE, former Mayor of London, ANDREW BOFF London Assembly Member, DAVID MCALMONT, singer/songwriter, and TIM TEEMAN, Times journalist will come together for an evening of debate of issues concerning the LGBT community.

People are invited to submit their questions to Miss Twinset by email or on the night before the debate which starts at 8.30 for an hour. The discussion will be followed by a performance by Dickie Beau (11.15) and an opportunity for some dancing.

Queer Question Time
Friday, 30 October 2009 at 19:00
Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London
Entry: £7.50

Anthony Blunt's Memoir Goes Public

25 years after the death of the former Cambridge professor and renowned art historian who was unmasked publicly as a spy by former prime minister Margaret Thatcher in 1979, the British Library unveiled yesterday a 30,000-word manuscript that amounts to a short account of his life, from birth through to the moment of his unmasking.

Following his death in 1983, the memoir was anonymously donated to the British Library on condition that it not be made available for 25 years, a restriction that has now expired. However, the manuscript can only be seen by registered Readers through the Manuscripts Reading Room, one person at the time. Furthermore the copyright status of the document is unknown which means that it cannot be reproduced.

Find out more:
- Blunt reveals a spy's life from beyond the grave, Reuters
- Anthony Blunt memoir reveals spy's regret at 'the biggest mistake of my life', the Guardian
- Blunt’s memoir is a sorry tale of regret, but not remorse, Timesonline
- Anthony Blunt memoir becomes available in British Library Reading Rooms - Press release, British Library

13 Love Stories

13LoveStories.com is a multimedia advocacy project that profiles the stories of thirteen couples whose lives were profoundly affected by Proposition 8 - the recent California ballot initiative that eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry.

This mobile photo exhibition and video project is presented by UCLA Art | Global Health Center and directed by Gideon Mendel. It debuted at UCLA on March 5th.

www.13lovestories.com

Iceland Selects Lesbian Prime Minister

Iceland’s next leader will be an openly lesbian former flight attendant and union organiser.

Last night the two parties forming Iceland’s new coalition Government backed Johanna Sigurdardottir, 66, a Social Democrat, to take charge until new elections are held, probably in May.

The previous conservative-led Government resigned on Monday in the wake of an economic crisis triggered by the country’s big banks last year.

Find out more in the PinkNews article here and read their profile of the woman here.

Notes to Obama: John Waters

As Barack Obama, the 44th and LGBT friendly president of the US is about to take the oath of office, queer filmmaker John Waters, gives him some advice.

View the video on the BBC News website here.

UN Statement Against Criminalisation of Homosexuality Imminent

A European initiative spearheaded by France (currently holding the rotating presidency of the Union) is being discussed by a United Nations General Assembly. The Statement, which would not create new rights and be legally binding, is asking for the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the end of discrimination on the group of gender.

This comes a few days after the celebrations of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was signed in 1948.

Louis Georges Tin, the founder of the Inernational Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), is behind the initiative. It has received the support of 60 countries so far, although the Vatican has spoken against it, saying that it could be used to force countries to recognise same-sex marriage. In the Americas the most notable absence is the United States. Russia and South Africa are also under pressure to sign the statement.

The Ambassador from Gabon will read the statement, probably on Thursday.

Human rights groups have issued action alerts to activists or organisations in "priority" countries that may still be persuaded to back the statement.

More than 80 countries outlaw same-sex relations in all circumstances. The maximum punishments range from a few years jail to life imprisonment. In nine countries, or regions of countries, the mandatory punishment for homosexuality is death.

Statement text:

We have the honour to make this statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity on behalf of […]

1 - We reaffirm the principle of universality of human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights whose 60th anniversary is celebrated this year, Article 1 of which proclaims that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”;

2 - We reaffirm that everyone is entitled to the enjoyment of human rights without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, as set out in Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 2 of the International Covenants on Civil and Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as in article 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

3 - We reaffirm the principle of non-discrimination which requires that human rights apply equally to every human being regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity;

4 - We are deeply concerned by violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms based on sexual orientation or gender identity;

5 - We are also disturbed that violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, stigmatisation and prejudice are directed against persons in all countries in the world because of sexual orientation or gender identity, and that these practices undermine the integrity and dignity of those subjected to these abuses;

6 - We condemn the human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity wherever they occur, in particular the use of the death penalty on this ground, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the practice of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, arbitrary arrest or detention and deprivation of economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to health;

7 - We recall the statement in 2006 before the Human Rights Council by fifty four countries requesting the President of the Council to provide an opportunity, at an appropriate future session of the Council, for discussing these violations;

8 - We commend the attention paid to these issues by special procedures of the Human Rights Council and treaty bodies and encourage them to continue to integrate consideration of human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity within their relevant mandates;

9 - We welcome the adoption of Resolution AG/RES. 2435 (XXXVIII-O/08) on “Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity” by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States during its 38th session in 3 June 2008;

10 - We call upon all States and relevant international human rights mechanisms to commit to promote and protect human rights of all persons, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity;

11 - We urge States to take all the necessary measures, in particular legislative or administrative, to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests or detention.

12 - We urge States to ensure that human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity are investigated and perpetrators held accountable and brought to justice;

13 - We urge States to ensure adequate protection of human rights defenders, and remove obstacles which prevent them from carrying out their work on issues of human rights and sexual orientation and gender identity.

With thanks to PinkNews.

Early Day Motion to Mark the Death of Harvey Milk

On 3 December, John Barrett, the Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, presented the following Early Day Motion to the House of Commons.

That this House notes that 2008 marks the 30 year anniversary of the assassination of San Francisco Supervisor and gay rights campaigner Harvey Milk; recognises the profound impact that Harvey Milk had on socio-political life in the 1970s as the first openly gay man elected to any substantial political office anywhere in the world; notes that following his tragic death there have been continual calls for the removal of barriers facing homosexuals in society; and calls on the Government to continue to promote equality for all regardless of sexual orientation.

Early day motions (EDMs) are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. However, very few EDMs are actually debated. Instead, they are used for reasons such as publicising the views of individual MPs, drawing attention to specific events or campaigns, and demonstrating the extent of parliamentary support for a particular cause or point of view.

An MP can add their signature to an EDM to show their support. In this case, Lynne Jones, Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak and Sandra Gidley, Liberal Democrat MP for Romsey showed their support by adding their signatures.

The above EDM can be found on the UK Parliament's website here.

An eagerly awaited biopic of Harvey Milk, starring Sean Penn, will be released in the UK next month. View the trailer and our previous post on the film here.

Read a thorough review of the film here.

Protest against Proposition 8

I hope you're familiar with Proposition 8 in California and the news that it passed, which is very bad news for the LGBT Community. Three other states passed legislation that denies our community equal rights.

A grass roots effort was started last Friday that has grown into an international protest this Saturday, 15th November. This is no longer a 4-state issue in the US--they are taking it national and international. Protest events are organised in 49 US states and in countries around the world.

There is an event organised for London outside the US Embassy at 1:30 p.m. this Saturday, 15th November to coincide with the hundreds of other events happening.

Come if you can. If you can't please at least pass this information along to your LGBT friends and allies.

More information online:

Protest Website (with history of the movement): jointheimpact.com

London's page: jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/UK

Facebook page for London protest: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=44135912525

Love Thy Neighbour - Homosexuality and Faith

Many faith leaders inadequately reflect their followers' religious objections to lesbian and gay sexuality, new research has found. Love Thy Neighbour - published by Stonewall and based on interviews with Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Christian participants from across the north of England - found that many hold significantly more moderate views of homosexuality than is often claimed on their behalf.

Participants suggested to researchers from the University of Leeds that when the perceived tension between faith and sexual orientation is discussed in public, the agenda often becomes so dominated by aggression and sensationalism that levels of respect between faith communities and gay communities are overlooked.

Find out more here. Download a pdf of the report here.

Gay Marriages

A busy few days for your gay marriage planners.

Last week we reported the change of the law in Norway authorising gay marriage.

This week=end, we learned that two Anglican priests, Rev Peter Cowell and Rev Dr David Lord, (already united by a Civil Partnership) exchanged vows and rings in a blessing ceremony at a London church, thereby re-igniting the internal feud conducted across continents by members of the Anglican Church about gay clergy (source). Gene Robinson's claims that if the Church got rid of gay clergy it would collapse (source) probably didn't help the matter either. The priest who officiated at the blessing ceremony reportedly now find himself threatened with a disciplinary action by his hierarchy while Rev Dr David Lord has resigned.

On 15 May, the Supreme Court of California overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage. The four-to-three decision made California the second state, after Massachusetts (Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey only offer civil contracts), to allow full marriage rights for same-sex partners. The Ruling is taking effect today and couples from across the United States are expecting to flock to the Golden State to tie the knot, so much so the local LGBT associations have produced a joint press release asking the newly wed not to start suing their respective states for a recognition of their union once returned home for fear that it might set back to struggle for equality.

Start Trek star George Takei, 71, has announced he would marry his partner of 21 years while opponents of same-sex marriage have managed to qualify for the November elections an amendment to the State Constitution (titled the "California Marriage Protection Act" by its proponents; titled the "Limit on Marriage" amendment for the ballot) that would explicitly state that "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California," Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has issued several statements pledging to oppose the amendment.

www.freedomtomarry.org

Lack of Lesbian Representation in Politics

A snapshot of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people in British politics has revealed that women are seriously under-represented.

Find out more here.

LGBT Victims of Franco Receive Recognition

Almost tow months ago, we published a post about Spanish people who had been imprisoned by the Franco regime for their sexual orientation and who had been seeking recognition and compensation for this for the past 30 years.

On 14 November, the Spanish parliament finally granted financial compensation to those people. According to Antonio Ruiz, president of the association of former social prisoner which spear-headed the compaign, this measure will affect about 50 people, the remaining survivers. They will recieve €800 per month for the rest of their life. €2M have been allocated for this by parliament for 2008. To receive compensation, people will have to request from the Spanish Ministry of Justice a copy of their file and of their condemnation.

LGBT Victims of Franco Demand Recognition

On Thursday 4 September, a group of Spanish LGBT associations, the Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales, (FELGTB: National LGBT Federation), requested compensations from the government for the members of the LGBT community who were arrested under the Franco dictatorship because of their sexual orientation. They also demanded that mention be made in the controversial and as yet unfinished law on historical memory of the "repression, torture, imprisonment and exil inflicted to LGBT people by the Franco government" and that the circumstances of the persecution be properly investigated.

Two laws served to justify the actions against the LGBT community: one against "vagrants and criminals", the other about "reabilitation and social danger".

An estimated 4000 LGBT people fell victim to the authorities, about 100 of which are still alive and have been campaigning for 30 years for the recognition of their plight and rights. In December 2006, the government, which introduced same-sex marriage in 2005 in the face of fierce Catholic opposition, had made positive noises in support of compensations but things seems to have gone by the wayside and survivors are still waiting.

Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales (spanish)
FELGTB press release (spanish)
Gay victims of Franco era to win compensation, The Independent, 28 December 2006

The Black Civil Rights, Women's Liberation and Gay Liberation Movements

On 21 August 1970, Huey Newton, co-founder and leader of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense published an article in “The Black Panther” newsletter. It was titled A Letter from Huey Newton to the Revolutionary Brothers and Sisters about the Women’s Liberation and Gay Liberation Movements and was the first pro-gay pronouncement to come from the black civil rights movement.

Newton had founded the Black Panther Party for Self Defense with Bobby Seale in October 1966. From his law studies at college, Newton was well-versed in the California penal code and state law regarding weapons, and was thus able to persuade a number of African-Americans to exercise their legal right to openly bear arms (as concealed firearms were illegal). Black Panthers bearing rifles and shotguns began patrolling areas where the Oakland police were said to commit racially-motivated crimes against the community's black citizens. Newton and Seale were also responsible for writing the Black Panther Party Platform and Program, derived largely from Newton’s Maoist influences. Newton was instrumental in the creation of programs for the provision of a free breakfasts for children, sickle-cell disease tests, free food and free clothing.

In early 1970, at a rally in support of Panther leader Bobby Seale who had been jailed, Jim Fouratt, one of the founders of the GLF, called on radical Civil Rights activists to stop using their usual homophobic rhetoric and to confront their bias against gay people. The French writer Jean Genet was also present at this meeting and made the same objections as Fouratt's. Edmund White, Genet's biographer, claims that it was Genet's comments which prompted Newton's open letter in August 1970.

Prominent figures of the Civil Rights movement such as James Baldwin, Langston Hughes or Bayard Rustin had found themselves austracised because of their sexuality. The effects of Newton's letter, despite its historical importance and symbolic significance, were slow to come and not as momentous as could have been hoped.

A few days later, on 5 September 1970, Male and female members of the GLF attended the Panther-sponsored Revolutionary People's Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. They returned with mixed feelings about the event. The women particularly felt they had not been taken seriously. Significantly, Newton made no mention in his plenary address of either gay or women's liberation.

A Letter from Huey Newton to the Revolutionary Brothers and Sisters about the Women’s Liberation and Gay Liberation Movements

During the past few years strong movements have developed among women and among homosexuals seeking their liberation. There has been some uncertainty about how to relate to these movements.

Whatever your personal opinions and your insecurities about homosexuality and the various liberation movements among homosexuals and women (and I speak of the homosexuals and women as oppressed groups), we should try to unite with them in a revolutionary fashion. I say " whatever your insecurities are" because as we very well know, sometimes our first instinct is to want to hit a homosexual in the mouth, and want a woman to be quiet. We want to hit a homosexual in the mouth because we are afraid that we might be homosexual; and we want to hit the women or shut her up because we are afraid that she might castrate us, or take the nuts that we might not have to start with.

We must gain security in ourselves and therefore have respect and feelings for all oppressed people. We must not use the racist attitude that the White racists use against our people because they are Black and poor. Many times the poorest White person is the most racist because he is afraid that he might lose something, or discover something that he does not have. So you're some kind of a threat to him. This kind of psychology is in operation when we view oppressed people and we are angry with them because of their particular kind of behavior, or their particular kind of deviation from the established norm.

Remember, we have not established a revolutionary value system; we are only in the process of establishing it. I do not remember our ever constituting any value that said that a revolutionary must say offensive things towards homosexuals, or that a revolutionary should make sure that women do not speak out about their own particular kind of oppression. As a matter of fact, it is just the opposite: we say that we recognize the women's right to be free. We have not said much about the homosexual at all, but we must relate to the homosexual movement because it is a real thing. And I know through reading, and through my life experience and observations that homosexuals are not given freedom and liberty by anyone in the society. They might be the most oppresed people in the society.

And what made them homosexual? Perhaps it's a phenomenon that I don't understand entirely. Some people say that it is the decadence of capitalism. I don't know if that is the case; I rather doubt it. But whatever the case is, we know that homosexuality is a fact that exists, and we must understand it in its purest form: that is, a person should have the freedom to use his body in whatever way he wants.

That is not endorsing things in homosexuality that we wouldn't view as revolutionary. But there is nothing to say that a homosexual cannot also be a revolutionary. And maybe I'm now injecting some of my prejudice by saying that "even a homosexual can be a revolutionary." Quite the contrary, maybe a homosexual could be the most revolutionary.

When we have revolutionary conferences, rallies, and demonstrations, there should be full participation of the gay liberation movement and the women's liberation movement. Some groups might be more revolutionary than others. We should not use the actions of a few to say that they are all reactionary or counterrevolutionary, because they are not.

We should deal with the factions just as we deal with any other group or party that claims to be revolutionary. We should try to judge, somehow, whether they are operating in a sincere revolutionary fashion and from a really oppressed situation. (And we will grant that if they are women they are probably oppressed.) If they do things that are unrevolutionary or counterrevolutionary, then criticize that action. If we feel that the group in spirit means to be revolutionary in practice, but they make mistakes in interpretation of the revolutionary philosophy, or they do not understand the dialectics of the social forces in operation, we should criticize that and not criticize them because they are women trying to be free. And the same is true for homosexuals. We should never say a whole movement is dishonest when in fact they are trying to be honest. They are just making honest mistakes. Friends are allowed to make mistakes. The enemy is not allowed to make mistakes because his whole existence is a mistake, and we suffer from it. But the women's liberation front and gay liberation front are our friends, they are our potential allies, and we need as many allies as possible.

We should be willing to discuss the insecurities that many people have about homosexuality. When I say "insecurities," I mean the fear that they are some kind of threat to our manhood. I can understand this fear. Because of the long conditioning process which builds insecurity in the American male, homosexuality might produce certain hang-ups in us. I have hang-ups myself about male homosexuality. But on the other hand, I have no hang-up about female homosexuality. And that is a phenomenon in itself. I think it is probably because male homosexuality is a threat to me and female homosexuality is not.

We should be careful about using those terms that might turn our friends off. The terms "faggot" and "punk" should be deleted from our vocabulary, and especially we should not attach names normally designed for homosexuals to men who are enemies of the people, such as Nixon or Mitchell. Homosexuals are not enemies of the people.

We should try to form a working coalition with the gay liberation and women's liberation groups. We must always handle social forces in the most appropriate manner.

See Also:
* The "Letter From Huey" by Rawley Grau - PlanetOut
* Black Gay and Lesbian Movements
in the United States
* Huey Newton on Wikipedia
* Black Panther Party on Wikipedia

* No Easy Answers: Bayard Rustin And The Civil Rights Movement, Calvin Craig Miller, Morgan Reynolds Publishing, 2005

US Senate Passes Matthew Shepard Act

On 27 September, the US Senate voted 60 to 39 in favour of expanding Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act to include protection for LGBT People against hate crimes. The Matthew Shepard Act, named for a victim of homophobia, comes as an amendment to the 2008 Department of Defense authorization bill.

George Bush might still oppose his veto to the new law as he deams hate crime legislation for the LGBT community unnecessary, despite FBI estimates that sexual orientation bias motivated 14% of hate crimes in 2005.

* Senate Extends Protections to Gays, Lesbians in Hate Crimes Act - ABC News
* US Senate passes gay hate crimes law - PinkNews.co.uk
* Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 - Wikipedia
* Matthew Shepard - Wikipedia

Paul Patrick on BBC Lancashire

Tomorrow morning at 8:00am, BBC Radio Lancashire will host an interview with Paul Patrick, Co-Chair of LGBT History Month, on the Wolfendon Report. You can listen to the Breakfast Show online (here) or through the radio.

Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Lancashire
Tuesday 4 September
8:00am

Prime Minister Brown on PinkNews

When Gordon Brown announced his candidature to the position of leader of the Labour party, in May this year, which would ultimately lead him to assume the position of Prime Minister, questions were raised around his record on LGBT rights.

Brown had never voted for gay rights until earlier this year when he voted in favour of the Sexual Orientation Regulations.

A few weeks ago, Brown addressed some of the questions PinkNews.co.uk readers sent in about his record and intentions on LGBT rights.

How can members of the LGBT community be assured of your commitment to Equality when, apart from the recent 'Goods & Services' regulations, you have been notably absent from every other 'Gay Equality' Bill the Government has introduced since 1997? John Irvine

John, let me be clear: I am proud of this Government's record on gay rights. I was brought up always to treat people equally, and that is core to what I believe.

I would like to think that my whole political life has been a fight for equality and a fairer society.

The Britain I believe in is one of fairness and opportunity for all - for me that means no one should ever feel unable to fulfil their potential whatever their race, religion or sexuality.

This Government has, as you kindly accept, improved the position of gays and lesbians in this country by removing unfair barriers and tackling discrimination.

I think this Government has made a huge amount of progress: for example, we've equalised the age of consent, repealed Section 28, and made it illegal to discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation.

I can promise this Government will continue to do all it can to make Britain a fairer and more tolerant place.

David Cameron and Tony Blair have spoken about their support for civil partnerships - why have you said nothing? What is your view? Paul Hillindon

I am very pleased, Paul, to have this opportunity to put on record my support for civil partnerships.

When I was at the Treasury we ensured equality for gay couples in the tax system, particularly inheritance tax, as part of the civil partnership legislation.

The fact is, when you are Chancellor, you tend to concentrate more on talking about the economy so there are quite a few areas of policy on which I have not said much.

Now I am in my new job, this will change - and I'm looking forward to it.

What will you be doing to help persecuted LGBT community worldwide from persecution and violence from right wing governments? What about EU countries that are hostile to gay rights? Ross Hunter

This Government has taken a lead in ending discrimination against gay and lesbian people in Britain, but as you say, Ross, the fight to counter discrimination is not restricted to the UK.

The reports we hear are deeply concerning: around the world gay and lesbian people are outlawed, persecuted and killed for advocating their rights.

We have announced an international strategy to promote rights overseas, which includes Britain's commitment to the universal decriminalisation of homosexuality.

We are and will continue to work with foreign partners and domestic organisations to protect the human rights of gay and lesbian people throughout the world.

New Labour has pushed through much needed reforms to tackle homophobia in all areas of society, but evidently more needs to be done. What proposals do you plan to introduce to further combat this? Val

I agree with you, Val, that there is more to do, and as I've said I can promise this Government will continue to do all it can to make Britain a fairer and more tolerant place.

One of the areas where more needs to be done, and is being done, is to tackle homophobic bullying in schools - to ensure that children are provided with a safe educational environment free from all forms of bullying - and, where it occurs, discrimination in the workplace.

We also need to ensure the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights not only ensures that anti-discrimination laws are enforced but also, importantly, plays its full part in changing attitudes.

All six candidates for Labour Deputy Leader agreed to a new offence of incitement to homophobic hatred - do you agree with them? Alan Stone

Alan, I believe that there is no place in twenty-first century Britain for homophobia, racism and any other form of discrimination which can destroy lives, poison communities and weaken the fabric of our national life.

There is a range of legislation already in place to protect individuals from harm, including criminal harassment, verbal abuse and incitement to violence.

In addition, we have ensured that courts impose tougher sentences for offences motivated or aggravated by the victim's sexual orientation, unless the court gives a good reason not to.

But while safeguarding the right of individuals to live free from discrimination and abuse, we also have to respect this country's long tradition of free speech, which this Government enshrined in the Human Rights Act.

There has to be a clear dividing line between robust debate and incitement to hate crime.

This is one of the reasons why we have brought the Serious Crime Bill before Parliament, including proposals to amend incitement law to make it easier to prove reckless encouragement of criminality.

Although the law is important, we should not neglect other ways of tackling unacceptable prejudice and extremism.

For example, we know that up to 90% of homophobic crime goes unreported because victims are too frightened and believe their story will not be believed or taken seriously.

In response, one of our key priorities is to increase reporting. When people do report, we must ensure it is taken seriously, that the incident is investigated and brought to justice.

We have set up Community Safety Units specifically to deal with hate crimes promptly and sensitively, with a Home Office hate crime strategy to improve confidence in the police while funding third-party groups to encourage reporting and help people who may feel uncomfortable about reporting directly to the authorities.

Lots of gay people who are too young to remember the last Tory government think that David Cameron is more gay-friendly than you. Does that worry you? Jen Ainslett

Well, Jen, I can assure you it isn't true.

I think we have to remind young people of the fact that gay and lesbian people did not have equal rights in 1997 and that the changes that have since taken place did not come about by accident but because of the actions of the Labour Government.

That's not to suggest that our party is the only one which contains politicians pressing for a fairer and more tolerant society.

But it is our party which has delivered the changes that were needed.

When I talk of building a progressive consensus, this is really what I mean: I can't now see anyone in a mainstream political party trying to reverse the progress we have made. That's a good thing.

Jacob Breslow, intern to both Schools OUT & LGBT History Month tells his story to Pink News

Pink News 16th August 2007 13:35
Comment
Article available here

Jacob Breslow - My Journey from Scared Teen to Gay Activist

The first time I came to the UK, I was amazed by its history, architecture and bustling cities.

Now, over ten years later, I have come back to experience this amazing place once again.

As a third year student from the University of California Santa Cruz, I am currently doing a full time internship with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) History Month and Schools OUT.

Coming to the UK to do LGBT work has been truly refreshing.

I feel I have come at an opportunistic time, shortly after a change in government and shortly after national laws that prohibit discrimination against LGBT people have passed.

I have been an advocate for the LGBT community since I came out when I was 14.

My commitment to our community has led me to work with government, police and schools.

Growing up as an out gay kid in my community was torture.

For a long time, I was the only out student, let alone person, at my school who was open about their sexuality.

The community that I grew up in was concerned with two things: getting into a prestigious university and making a lot of money.

Clearly, being gay didn't fit into this plan.

Although I knew that my parents would be supportive, I dared not come out to them in fear that one of my brothers found out and spread it to my school.

With no one to talk to and no support from my school or my community, getting through each day became a battle. Eventually, I gave up.

Leaving the hospital after my second suicide attempt, I became determined to prove to my community and my school that I was more than their expectations.

It was my goal to make sure that no one went through the isolation and harassment that I experienced.

I quickly joined youth groups and raised awareness of LGBT people at my school.

Six years on, I have worked with five LGBT youth organisations, most of which are aimed at improving the environment for LGBT youth in schools.

My passion for community work has also influenced my current studies, as I am focused on learning about the culture and oppression of LGBT people.

This year, I was awarded by the Point Foundation for my commitment to my academics and to our community.

The foundation is the largest publicly-supported organisation granting scholarships to LGBT students of merit in the US.

They have given me this amazing opportunity to come to the UK and do my work for Schools OUT.

It is really exciting to be working in a country that legally recognises the lives of LGBT people.

It is because of this recognition that organisations like Schools OUT and LGBT History Month have been able to create such substantial change.

This is the fourth year for LGBT History Month, which happens every February in the UK.

We are celebrating with a pre-launch at the Royal Courts of Justice this November.

The work of the LGBT History Month is important because it makes visible the contributions of LGBT people to our world.

By celebrating our past we can create a greater future.

I am really excited to see where the internship takes me.

My current plans are to finish undergraduate and then continue on with graduate studies in queer theory or feminist studies.

I am truly grateful to everyone who gave me this opportunity and I am really excited about continuing my work in the UK.

For more information about LGBT History Month click here.

For more information about Schools Out click here.

For more information about The Point Foundation click here.