The Green Party is looking forward to a weekend of celebrations at Brighton Pride.. Leading human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will join Caroline Lucas MEP at a public meeting to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.
'Stonewall 40: The Unfinished Battle for LGBT Freedom' this Friday 31st July, 6:30PM,
The Eagle, 125 Gloucester Road, Brighton BN1 4AF
Highlighting some of the issues he will cite in his talk on Friday Mr Tatchell said:
"This year we are celebrating 40 years since the Stonewall Riots in New York, which triggered the world-wide movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) human rights.
"Brighton Pride is fun. It is a great celebration. But there is a serious side too. We are still campaigning for trans, bi, lesbian and gay equality: one example is that successive Home Secretaries have given visas and work permits to reggae singers who incite the murder of gay people. Such incitement is a serious criminal offence.
"Under legislation that was introduced under Thatcher, gay and bisexual men are still prohibited from donating blood, even if they always practice safe sex and have tested HIV-negative. This is entirely unjustifiable in a period when the National Blood Service needs to backup its reserves because of swine 'flu.
"The LGBT community has made great strides towards equality, but we have not yet won equal treatment. The government's current Equality Bill is supposed to ensure equal rights for everyone but it specifically denies lesbian and gay people protection against harassment. The government supports the ban on same-sex marriage. Civil partnerships are not equality. They are a form of sexual apartheid, with different laws for gay and straight couples. Labour's many commendable gay law reforms are no excuse for its stonewalling on the abolition of these remaining aspects of homophobic discrimination.
"We won't stop campaigning until we win full respect, acceptance, dignity and human rights," said Mr Tatchell.
The public meeting will be followed on Saturday by the annual Pride march through Brighton. The Green Party will have a float to reflect
this year's theme: 'By The Seaside'.
Phelim Mac Cafferty, LGBTGreens National Spokesperson explained:
"The float will be built in the form of a ship 'The Pride of Brighton' captained by Green Party leader, Caroline Lucas, Green Party
members will be dressed as mermaids and sailors.
"The float has been created according to sustainable standards: all of
the wood used for the float is sourced from scrap; material being used
for waves and for costumes on the float is sourced from landfill-bound
sheets; wood for the puppet was donated by sustainable woodland
projects; the DJ rig on board the float will be 100% powered by solar
power, while the truck will be run on a biodiesel blend.
"Costumes have been made and designed by a professional dress
designer, who will be exhibiting in Honk Hong in spring 2010[1]"
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