Green Party LGBT News
| Green Euro-MP to address Brighton LGBT rally | 17 May 2007 |
SummaryLUCAS TO MARK INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA (IDAHO) Event: Caroline Lucas MEP addresses event to mark IDAHO Place: Peter Pan's Playground Volks Railway station, Madeira Drive, Brighton Time: TODAY, Thursday, May 17th, 8. |
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LUCAS TO MARK INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA (IDAHO)Event: Caroline Lucas MEP addresses event to mark IDAHO
Place: Peter Pan's Playground Volks Railway station, Madeira Drive, Brighton
Time: TODAY, Thursday, May 17th, 8.30pm
GREEN Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas is to speak at a Brighton rally to mark IDAHO 2007– International Day Against Homophobia –tomorrow.
Dr Lucas will warn that LGBT rights are routinely violated across the world – even in the EU and here in the UK – and that this is in breach of natural justice and international human rights law.
"There are 77 countries around the world where the 'crime' of being homosexual is still punishable by imprisonment, or even execution," she will say.
"This is a direct breach of the spirit of international human rights and anti-discrimination legislation, and may be unlawful under 'customary'
international law, even where the countries concerned have 'opted out' of anti-discrimination measures of human rights treaties.
"But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Across the EU, and especially in the most recent countries to join, there is institutionalized homophobia despite the obligation that EU members respect the European Convention on Human Rights.
"I am delighted to be able to mark IDAHO at an event here in Brighton, and to celebrate diversity with one of the most vibrant LGBT communities in the world right here in my South-East England constituency, but the ongoing reality of abuse, persecution and discrimination means we need International Day Against Homophobia to become truly international and marked globally."
Other speakers include Kemptown MP Des Turner and Brighton-based National Union of Teachers president and Green Party LGBT spokesperson Nigel Tart.
During the rally 77 balloons will be released to mark the 77 countries where homosexuality remains a criminal offence.
ENDS
Note to Editors: For more information on the IDAHO campaign see www.idaho.org.uk
For more information please contact Ben on 01273 671946, 07973 823358 or ben@greenmeps.org.uk
www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk
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