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So Cameron - what IS homophobic?!
Oct. 7th, 2009 03:20 pmThe Tories are continuing to try and convince us that they are not evil homophobes who are eager to destroy our rights at every possible opportunity.
I, as I have made clear many times before, am not convinced. All the Tories have done is made a lot of very pretty, but ultimately meaningless, speeches.
While at the same time their voting record remains overwhelmingly homophobic.
And this isn't just historic - this includes votes on gay rights right up and into 2009. The Tory party was homophobic - and despite the cooing and sighing various groups, people and celebreties are giving them over their oh-so-nice speeches, they remain homophobic today and committed to opposing our every efforts to be treated with equality and respect.
I can't emphasise this enough. Do not be taken in by Cameron's speeches - look at the actual policies and voting records - the Tories have done NOTHING for us, don't PLAN to do anything for us and in every single opportunity they have had to voter and act in our favour they have VIRULENTLY and OVERWHELMINGLY opposed us - right up to the present day
The Tories are the enemies of gay rights - and of gay people.
And the latest example?
Well all these GBLT folks who think the Tories have turned a corner and no longer despise every breath we take (ignoring the virulent homophobes still being in positions of power and the still very anti-gay voting record) can't quite hold their nose against the stench of the conservative Polish political party that now heads the Tories' little EU voting bloc. It's homophobic, it's virulently, unflinchingly and inexcusably homophobic - and the Tories have merrily crawled into bed with them.
Cameron's answer to this criticism? "They're not homophobic."
And that scares me. I am actually afraid.
I am afraid because the head of the Polish Law and Justice Party, Michal Kaminski, calls us "fags." Cameron does not believe this is homophobic.
They are virulently against gay marriage and gay adoption. Cameron does not believe this is homophobic.
They have vehemently opposed any attempts at gay rights in Poland to an extent that Robert Biedron, a board member of Poland's Campaign Against Homophobia, called him a "Symbol of homophobia in Poland."
Cameron does not consider this homophobic.
I am afraid. I am afraid because Cameron, a man tipped to be the next prime minister, does not consider virulent hate speech and denial of basic human rights to homosexuals homophobic.
The man who is supposed to protect me and mine from the violent hatred and prejudice we face does not consider these very clear acts of hate to be homophobic. I'm afraid because I don't know how extreme an act has to be, how repellent a position has to be, for Cameron to consider it homophobic. How extreme does anti-gay hate have to be before Cameron considers it reprehensible?
I look at the next election with an ever growing sense of fear. Because if the Tories win, how many of our rights will we get to keep? How safe will we be? How much will we be able to continue to make this country a safe and good place for us? And how much will we be - can we be - hurt before the Tories and the people and policies they bring will lift a finger to help, support or protect us?
I, as I have made clear many times before, am not convinced. All the Tories have done is made a lot of very pretty, but ultimately meaningless, speeches.
While at the same time their voting record remains overwhelmingly homophobic.
And this isn't just historic - this includes votes on gay rights right up and into 2009. The Tory party was homophobic - and despite the cooing and sighing various groups, people and celebreties are giving them over their oh-so-nice speeches, they remain homophobic today and committed to opposing our every efforts to be treated with equality and respect.
I can't emphasise this enough. Do not be taken in by Cameron's speeches - look at the actual policies and voting records - the Tories have done NOTHING for us, don't PLAN to do anything for us and in every single opportunity they have had to voter and act in our favour they have VIRULENTLY and OVERWHELMINGLY opposed us - right up to the present day
The Tories are the enemies of gay rights - and of gay people.
And the latest example?
Well all these GBLT folks who think the Tories have turned a corner and no longer despise every breath we take (ignoring the virulent homophobes still being in positions of power and the still very anti-gay voting record) can't quite hold their nose against the stench of the conservative Polish political party that now heads the Tories' little EU voting bloc. It's homophobic, it's virulently, unflinchingly and inexcusably homophobic - and the Tories have merrily crawled into bed with them.
Cameron's answer to this criticism? "They're not homophobic."
And that scares me. I am actually afraid.
I am afraid because the head of the Polish Law and Justice Party, Michal Kaminski, calls us "fags." Cameron does not believe this is homophobic.
They are virulently against gay marriage and gay adoption. Cameron does not believe this is homophobic.
They have vehemently opposed any attempts at gay rights in Poland to an extent that Robert Biedron, a board member of Poland's Campaign Against Homophobia, called him a "Symbol of homophobia in Poland."
Cameron does not consider this homophobic.
I am afraid. I am afraid because Cameron, a man tipped to be the next prime minister, does not consider virulent hate speech and denial of basic human rights to homosexuals homophobic.
The man who is supposed to protect me and mine from the violent hatred and prejudice we face does not consider these very clear acts of hate to be homophobic. I'm afraid because I don't know how extreme an act has to be, how repellent a position has to be, for Cameron to consider it homophobic. How extreme does anti-gay hate have to be before Cameron considers it reprehensible?
I look at the next election with an ever growing sense of fear. Because if the Tories win, how many of our rights will we get to keep? How safe will we be? How much will we be able to continue to make this country a safe and good place for us? And how much will we be - can we be - hurt before the Tories and the people and policies they bring will lift a finger to help, support or protect us?