Green Party LGBT News
| LGBT Hate Crimes make it into the Government's latest CJB | 18 October 2007 |
SummaryGreens elated to have helped push Government into adding new offence. Call to continue the fight for legislative equality for LGBT communities |
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Main Body
Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, has announced a new offence of incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation will be introduced in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill. Phelim Mac Cafferty, on behalf of the Green LGBT Group expressed elation that legislation will finally have teeth to enforce our community's rights.
"This legislation comes after a summer of campaigning on behalf of the Green Party, including of course, the petition that we set up on the Prime Minister's website at:
petitions.pm.gov.uk/LGBT-Hate-Crime/.
"We should feel proud that our campaigning has brought tools to our armoury that we can use in stamping out the bigotry that is still making the lives of too many LGBT people a misery.
"If we remember what nearly happened to the Goods, Services and Facilities Regs, we now need no pyrrhic victory. Greens will continue to push the government to plough ahead and sideline the bigots who've fought so hard to keep this legislation from the statute and managed to maul the Sexual Orientation Regulations in Northern Ireland.
"Greens will continue to monitor the government's moves and, of course, will continue to campaign for these rights to apply to the trans community. We believe that often some of the worst discrimination and violence is felt by trans people and for that reason we'll push for
their protection in law also.
"As law is only one way in which we will strive for equality and the hard work often continues in the law's application, Greens really want the amendment in the Criminal Justice Bill to practically outlaw the performance, sale, promotion and broadcasting of music and other arts which incite hatred and violence towards our community."
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