Just ten days after the International Day Against Homophobia, the shocking scenes in Russia yesterday serve to remind us that across the globe homophobia is still rife, even in countries where homosexuality is technically no longer a crime.
Activists, including MEPs and the irrepressible Peter Tatchell, were attacked as they protested against a ban on Moscow’s gay pride parade. The police did nothing, and later arrested the victims of the vicious assault, allowing the perpetrators to walk free. This is despite the fact that Russia, which is a signatory to the European Convention of Human Rights, decriminalized homosexuality in 1993.
In over 70 countries homosexuality is still considered a crime, punishable by death in places such as Iran, Sudan and Pakistan. Even in the UK, gay men and lesbians still face covert prejudice. No one deserves to be beaten, locked up, made fun of or shunned simply because of their sexual preference, skin colour, gender or age.
Some people would argue that my strongly held views against discrimination and intolerance make me a member of the PC brigade. If that is their opinion, then call me PC and proud!
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LouisRobert
- 28.05.2007 @ 15:13:48
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hf148
- http://www.myspace.com/helena_rose_justice
- 30.05.2007 @ 13:31:42
I wouldn't consider myself to be PC, but some would depending on thier own subjective interpretations of the classification. I have to disagree with your comment that "most minority groups seem to want their rights but not others". The majority of Muslims I have met, for example, think nothing of the sort. I work for a gay rights organisation and the idea is to obtain the rights that are afforded to all- not a special set of "rules for gay people". Don't tar all with the same brush just because of the vocal but unrepresentative views of a few.
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PurpleDragon
- 28.05.2007 @ 17:05:06
I think yesterdays display was disgraceful. Why anyone thinks that punching someone in the face is going to make them stop being homosexual, or change their approval of it, is beyond me.
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Benjaminbrum
- http://www.twitter.com/benjibrum
- 28.05.2007 @ 17:38:38
And also to arrest the people attacked and not the attackers.
Just shameful! -
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joebangles
- 15.06.2007 @ 16:51:32
I am so against what has become known as P.C. as I believe it has replaced C. S. ( common sense ), but your post isn't about being p c, it's about being fair too all regardless of their way of life.
Unfortunately, minorities do seem to get more publicity, and it's that minority of a minority section, the extreme part, that condemns the rest of the group, empty barrels make most noise, but seem to get most attention from the P.C. brigade.
I am not gay, I am not "for" or "against" those that are, I agree that partners of the same sex should have the same rights as a male/female partnership, I do not support the adoption of a child by same sex couples as I believe the child needs a father and mother in early life.
I believe that I am in the "majority" group, live and let live, but we do not want extreme ideas pushed on to us and the minority groups have to do all in their power to make it known that these "extreme" ideas do not have the support of the majority of that minority section.
Sorry, I rattled on a bit, with "majority's" and "minority's", regarding your post, Moscow banned the parade, it's their country and they can do that, politicians signing up to something means nothing. It did take many years for the UK to accept homosexuality, it is going to take Russia a lot longer.
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I_Am_Xenon
Pro - 21.06.2007 @ 14:43:57
There is nothing "Politically Correct" about wanting equal rights and equal treatment for all. "Politically Correct" is little more than Orwellian "Newspeak" for the 21st century, a way of phrasing things in order to not give offence.
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You can support equality and be anti PC. I have no problems with anyones activities or beliefs from Satan to Sufi Islam as long as you respect others can have contrary views. However most minority groups seem to want their rights but not others e.g. muslims views on women, gays etc/ PC is just a thought police liberal facist agenda to make everyone think and speak like them and is no different to any other form of prejudice e.g. lets sack a lecturer at uni for saying things from a right wing perspective that we dont like but support a religious nutter for saying what he belives even if it is homophobic, sexist and full of hatred. That is PC it means only a liberal agenda is acceptabel and all state institutions are institutional racist, sexist, islamaphobic etc but all criminals and anti social thugs are misunderstood and discrtiminated against