BRITAIN: Activists Protest Outside Dolce And Gabbana's Flagship London Store

Peter Tatchell On Outing Whitney Houston

BRITAIN: Activist Peter Tatchell Threatens To Out Gay Bishops Over Marriage

I am considering outing gay @c_of_e bishops who discipline gay clergy who marry http://t.co/wtKDYO4oRv @LGCM @changingatt @LondonLGBTPride
— Peter Tatchell (@PeterTatchell) July 24, 2014

Via Pink News:

Gay hospital chaplain Jeremy Pemberton had his Permission to Officiate revoked by the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham after he married his same-sex partner, while London vicar Andrew Cain said he “fully expects” to be punished for marrying last month. The veteran rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said this week that he would out any gay bishops who discipline their married colleagues. Speaking to Kelvin Holdsworth of St Mary’s Cathedral, Tatchell said: “I believe people have a right to privacy so long as they are not using their own power and authority to harm other people and when other people are being caused harm and suffering we have a duty to try and stop it. If this is the only way, it is certainly not the preferable way, it’s not the first option but as a last resort I think it is morally and ethically justifiable.”

BRITAIN: Activists Crash Coke Event

Anna Leach reports at Gay Star News:

Protestors gate-crashed a Coca-Cola Christmas PR stunt in London's Covent Garden today, in opposition to the global brand's sponsorship of the Sochi Olympics. The gay rights activists, including Peter Tatchell, tried to climb on the roof of the Coca-Cola truck parked in the center of London on one of the busiest Christmas shopping days. They were pulled down by security guards. 'Coke is sponsoring the Sochi Winter Olympics, without even a murmur of unease at the anti-gay and repressive policies of the Putin government. It is shameful acquiescence with oppression,' said Tatchell, coordinator of the protest.

Coke has issued a statement: "We have long been a strong supporter of the LGBT community and have advocated for inclusion and diversity through both our policies and practices. We do not condone intolerance or discrimination of any kind anywhere in the world. We believe a more positive impact can be made through continued involvement [in the Olympics], rather than by sitting on the sidelines."

BRITAIN: Activist Peter Tatchell Leads Protest At Commonwealth Headquarters

Via press release:

Gay campaigners and allies rallied today outside the Commonwealth’s London HQ to protest against “Commonwealth collusion with homophobia.” Commonwealth leaders from around the world meet in Sri Lanka on Friday. Yet again they plan to ignore the criminalisation of lesbian and gay people in 80% of Commonwealth member states, including the current wave of homophobic persecution in Ghana, Cameroon, Zambia, Uganda and Nigeria. The theme of the protest was: “Commonwealth member states must stop persecuting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.” he protesters chanted: “2-4-6-8. Commonwealth stop the hate. 3-5-7-9. Gay love is not a crime” and “Common rights in the Commonwealth. Stop persecuting gays.” Today’s protest took place just two days before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) opens in Sri Lanka. The protest was jointly sponsored by the Kaleidoscope Trust, the Peter Tatchell Foundation and the African LGBTI Out & Proud Diamond Group.

More photos are here. See Monday's JMG post about the 41 Commonwealth nations that outlaw homosexuality.

At Yesterday's Protest In London

HomoQuotable - Peter Tatchell

"Media reports are wrong. The Queen has NOT expressed support for LGBT equality. The Commonwealth Charter that she’s signing includes no pledge on LGBT rights. LGBT rights were deliberately excluded. In 61 years as Queen, she has never publicly uttered the words lesbian or gay. She is a patron of hundreds of charities but none of them are gay ones. Not once has she visited or supported a gay charity. For the last four years, I’ve been pressing Buckingham Palace over the Queen’s failure to acknowledge the existence of LGBT people - and got nowhere.

"The Commonwealth Charter does not include any specific rejection of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This was vetoed by the homophobic majority of member states. They blocked its inclusion in the charter. This makes the Queen’s signing of the charter even less of a big deal. It is certainly not the breakthrough for LGBT rights that some people are claiming." - British activist Peter Tatchell, posting on his Facebook page.

HomoQuotable - Peter Tatchell

"The Cardinal is a troubled man. I pity him. He needs counselling to help him deal with his decades of deception, and to come to terms with his obvious self-loathing and deeply repressed homosexual desires.  O'Brien's statement falls well short of what we would expect from a spiritual leader. He has failed to apologize for the hatred and harm he caused the LGBT community. I urge the Cardinal to show true remorse for his homophobia and hypocrisy by saying sorry to the LGBT community for the hatred and harm he has caused - and by publicly repenting his homophobia. He should make amends by dropping his opposition to marriage equality and by beginning a new gay-affirmative ministry to LGBT Catholics." - British activist Peter Tatchell on the confession of Cardinal Keith O'Brien. (Via Gay Star News)

HomoQuotable: Peter Tatchell

"Cardinal [Keith] O'Brien condemned homosexuality as a grave sin and was a long-time opponent of gay equality. He supported homophobic discrimination in law, including the current ban on same-sex marriage. In the light of these allegations, his stance looks hypocritical. He appears to have preached one thing in public while doing something different in private. Several other prominent opponents of equal marriage are guilty of double standards and vulnerable to similar exposure. They include anti-gay clergy and politicians.

"It is estimated that around 40% of Catholic priests in Britain are gay, which makes the church's opposition to gay equality so two-faced and absurd. A significant proportion of all Cardinals worldwide is thought to be gay. Recent revelations in Italy have alleged the existence of a gay mafia within the Vatican, including senior Cardinals and other Vatican officials, and their participation in gay bars, clubs, saunas, chat rooms and male prostitution services. The Vatican is shamelessly championing homophobia and the denial of legal equality to gay people, while hosting a hotbed of secret, guilt-ridden clerical homosexuality." - British activist Peter Tatchell, in a statement posted on his website.

NOM's Thomas Peters Vs Peter Tatchell

BRITAIN: Peter Tatchell Debates Catholic Union Head On Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Today Al Jazeera published the below debate between British activist Peter Tatchell and Catholic Union head James Bogle, who hits all the usual anti-gay talking points. Won't somebody please think about the children? Tatchell: "Stop interrupting me, you rude man!"
(Tipped by JMG reader Nicholas)

On Britain's Public Order Act

Many times here we've noted the difference between freedom of speech laws in Britain and America. Noted LGBT activist Peter Tatchell is among those interviewed in this clip about opposition to Britain's Public Order Act.

HomoQuotable - Peter Tatchell

"The Olympic Charter prohibits all discrimination, and this includes homophobic discrimination. Any country that discriminates against women, ethnic or religious minorities, or lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) athletes should be disqualified from the 2012 Olympics. Why isn’t homophobia, biphobia and transphobia being challenged by the Olympic authorities? It is wrong that in over 150 countries LGBT athletes are forced to hide their sexuality in order to get selected and compete. The International Olympic Committee and London Olympic organisers should require all competing nations to sign a pledge that they do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. If they refuse to sign, they should be denied participation in the games." - Famed British LGBT rights activist Peter Tatchell, quoted by Pink News.

HomoQuotable - Peter Tatchell

"While I doubt that Elizabeth II is a raging homophobe, she certainly doesn't appear to gay-friendly. Not once in her 60-year reign has she publicly acknowledged the existence of the LGBT community – or gay members of her own royal family. The Queen has turned her back on queens. While she has spoken approvingly of the UK's many races and faiths, for six decades she has ignored LGBT Britons.

"Judging from her silence, it seems that we are the unspeakable ones – the people she cannot bare to acknowledge or mention in public. Why the double standards? Regardless of whether these omissions are a reflection of the Queen's personal views or the result of advice from her courtiers, as monarch she bears ultimate responsibility. Her silence sends a signal of exclusion and disrespect." - Famed British activist Peter Tatchell, writing for the Guardian UK. The Queen's diamond jubilee celebration takes place this weekend.

BRITAIN: Government Retreats On Vow To Cut Aid To Anti-Gay Nations

The British government now says it was misunderstood over plans to cut humanitarian aid to nations that abuse their LGBT citizens. The plan was denounced by more than a dozen African nations as well as human rights activists both in the nations likely to be affected and in Britain. LGBT activist Peter Tatchell reacts:

“The commitment of the UK government to global human rights, including LGBTI rights, is welcome and commendable. I am pleased to hear that no cuts in aid are planned. Although human rights abuses are unacceptable and violate international humanitarian law, any reduction in aid would penalise the poorest, most vulnerable people in developing countries. Many are dependent on aid for basic needs like food, clean water, health care and education. They should not be made to suffer because of human rights abuses by their governments."

A British official clarified that some funds will be directed away from abusive governments, but he promised that aid will still reach those in need.

OWS At London's Stock Exchange

Renowned British activist Peter Tatchtell is live-tweeting the ongoing OWS solidarity protest at London's stock exchange.

BRITAIN: Peter Tatchell Calls On Prime Minister To Endorse Marriage

Echoing the debate in the United States, noted British activist Peter Tatchell is calling on Prime Minister David Cameron to endorse same-sex marriage.

The British people are ready for change, with a clear majority in favour of allowing same-sex partners to marry. A Populus poll for the Times newspaper in June 2009 found that 61 per cent of the public believe that: “Gay couples should have an equal right to get married, not just to have civil partnerships.” Only 33 per cent disagreed. The deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and London Mayor Boris Johnson back marriage equality, as do the leaders of Labour and the Greens, respectively Ed Miliband and Caroline Lucas. Only David Cameron is holding out against same-sex marriage rights. What is he afraid of?

HomoQuotable - Peter Tatchell

"We witnessed a high level of fraternisation and collusion between neo-Nazis and the Moscow police. I saw neo-Nazis leave and re-enter police buses parked on Tverskaya Street by City Hall. Our suspicion is that many of the neo-Nazis were actually plainclothes police officers, who did to us what their uniformed colleagues dared not do in front of the world’s media. Either that, or the police were actively facilitating the right-wing extremists with transport to the protest.

"During the Second World War, Mucovites stood against the Nazis. Now the Mayor of Moscow is colluding with neo-Nazis. He gave the neo-Nazi groups permission to stage a protest calling for violence against gay people, while denying Moscow Gay Pride a permit to rally for gay equality." - Famed British activist Peter Tatchell, reporting from yesterday's demonstration in Moscow.

Peter Tatchell: Eurovision 2011 Winner Azerbaijan Isn't Safe For Gay People

The winning nation of the Eurovision Song Contest gets to host the event the following year, with gay fans of the contest often comprising one of the largest groups of tourists in attendance. Today noted British LGBT activist Peter Tatchell warns that this year's Eurovision winner, Azerbaijan, is an unsafe destination for gay people.

"Azerbaijan is not a welcoming or safe country for LGBT people. Although homosexuality was decriminalised in 2001, the LGBT community suffers police harassment and brutality, including bashings, blackmail, intimidation, bribery and invasions of privacy. LGBT people risk eviction from their homes and dismissal from their jobs. They have no legal protection against discrimination. Homophobic prejudice, threats and violence are systemic problems. The Eurovision organisers must seek guarantees from the Azerbaijani government that it will respect human rights, that visitors to next year's competition will not be victimised and that domestic and foreign media covering the event will be able to report freely, without harassment."

Marriage Protest At Buckingham Palace

Yesterday noted British activist Peter Tatchell led a marriage equality protest in the middle of the royal wedding media storm outside of Buckingham Palace.

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell delivered a gigantic wedding card to Buckingham Palace which, according to the website of Chicago Gay Pride, read: "Congratulations William and Kate on your Wedding Day. We wish you a happy life together. You can get married, gay people can't. We are banned by law. We ask you to support marriage equality. Equal=Love." Gay marriage supporters have put together a waved pink Union Jack flags as the giant card, part of the so-called Equal Love campaign, was unveiled. Tatchell said he hoped the royal couple would "find a way" to back the protest.

Tatchell: "I'm sure Kate and William have gay and lesbian friends. I'm sure they wouldn't wish to see them discriminated against."