| POLICIES FOR GAY LONDON 2000
Peter Tatchell, the Independent gay candidate in the forthcoming London
Assembly elections, sets out his policies for lesbian and gay Londoners
VOTE TATCHELL FOR LONDON ASSEMBLY
An Independent Voice for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender
Londoners
Straight talking from the gay
candidate!
Social justice & human rights for all Londoners.
Peter Tatchell is standing as an Independent in
the London Assembly election on 4 May.
Peter is backing Ken Livingstone for Mayor. Ken needs allies like Peter in the Assembly
to stop his budget and polices being vetoed.
Peter can win. He is standing in the list section of the ballot and needs only 5 to 8
percent of the vote to get elected.
VOTE TATCHELL
in the list section for the London Assembly on 4 May
All Londoners - gay and straight - will benefit from Peter Tatchell's policies -
such as a four year fares freeze, a minimum wage of £4.50 an hour, modernisation of the
tube, and cuts in water, air and noise pollution. But he also has policies that will
specifically benefit lesbians and gay men:
PETER's TOP 12 POLICIES FOR GAY LONDON - Summary
* A police inquiry into homophobic hate crimes, backed up with an action plan against
queer-bashing violence
* The recognition of same sex relationships through the Mayor’s creation of a
Domestic Partnership Register
* Integrated London-wide HIV prevention campaigns and support services to remedy local
inadequacies and upgrade the standard of treatment and care
* Lesbian and gay representation on the Metropolitan Police Authority to ensure that we
have influence over policing priorities and the appointment of senior officers
* Equal opportunities and non-discrimination on the grounds of sexuality, gender identity
and HIV status
* Non-prosecution of consenting, victimless gay offences, such as cruising
* A Community Form where lesbians and gays can question and advise the Mayor on issues
that concern us
* Homophobic remarks and behaviour by police officers to be made an explicit
offence under the police disciplinary code
* The establishment of a Lesbian & Gay Centre, History Museum & Archive
* Hyde Park as the venue for the annual Pride/Mardi Gras Festival, and London to host
the World Gay Games
* No Mayoral contracts for firms that discriminate against
queers and people with HIV
* A commitment to campaign against homophobia, racism and all other
forms of
discrimination
PETER TATCHELL’s POLICIES FOR LESBIAN & GAY
LONDON
1 AN INQUIRY INTO HOMOPHOBIC HATE CRIMES
One of my priorities is to get the new Metropolitan Police Authority to commission a
report on homophobic hate crimes, similar to the Stephen Lawrence inquiry on racism. The
report's aim would be to draw up a plan of action to tackle homophobic hate crimes and
root out homophobia from the
Metropolitan Police. Cracking down on anti-queer violence is essential, in order to make
London a safe city for its gay and lesbian citizens. Queer-bashing hotspots should be
identified by the police, and then targeted by officers to bring the culprits to justice.
There also needs to be more vigorous enforcement of the anti-harassment laws to prosecute
and evict homophobic tenants who victimise their gay neighbours.
2 DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP REGISTER
I am proposing that the new Greater London Authority (GLA) establish a Domestic
Partnership Register, where unmarried couples - gay and straight - can register their
relationship. Under my plan, the GLA will give these couples the same recognition and
rights as married men and women, including recognition as next of kin. In the case of
lesbian and gay employees of GLA-controlled bodies, if they die their partner will be able
to inherit their pension, and if their partner is ill they will be entitled to
compassionate leave. By pioneering same-sex partnership rights, the GLA can put the issue
on the political agenda and boost the campaign for national legislation.
3 HOMOPHOBIA TO BE A POLICE DISCIPLINARY OFFENCE
Homophobia, racism and other forms of prejudice have no place in the police service.
Homophobic remarks and behaviour by officers should be made an explicit offence under the
police disciplinary code - in the same way that racism is now an explicit offence.
4 PRIDE/MARDI GRAS IN HYDE PARK & WORLD GAY GAMES IN LONDON
The Mayor and London Assembly should officially support the annual Pride/Mardi Gras March
and Festival, hosting the opening Gala Night at the new GLA headquarters. The Royal Park's
ban must end. I will campaign to for the Festival to be held in Hyde Park in 2001. Working
together with gay community groups and London tourist authorities, the GLA can help ensure
that Pride/Mardi Gras becomes a world-class queer celebration to rival Sydney’s Mardi
Gras and the Rio Carnival. I will also use my influence to get the GLA to host the World
Gay Games in London.
5 EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE
The GLA's equal opportunities policy must include an explicit commitment to ban
discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and HIV status. It should give
protection not only to GLA employees, but also to the staff of GLA-controlled bodies such
as the Metropolitan Police, London Transport and the Fire Service. I will push for this
non-discrimination policy to include recognition and rights for same-sex partnerships,
such as the granting of spousal benefits to the partners of lesbian and gay employees. By
setting this "gold standard" of equality, the GLA will put other institutions -
and
the government - under pressure to follow suit.
6 GAY REPRESENTATION ON THE METROPOLITAN POLICE AUTHORITY
I will urge the Mayor to appoint a representative from our community to
the new Metropolitan Police Authority to ensure that the concerns of lesbian and gay
Londoners are heard. With this representation, we will influence the body that appoints
senior officers and determines policing priorities for the capital.
7 INTEGRATED LONDON-WIDE HIV PREVENTION & SUPPORT
There is an urgent need for London-wide integration of HIV prevention campaigns and
support services, and for closer cooperation between health authorities and AIDS
organisations. This is essential to end the costly duplication of services, remedy
inadequacies in local provision, and enhance support for people with HIV. The Mayor and
the GLA can help facilitate this process of integration and cooperation and should be
encouraged to make action against HIV a health priority. I will lobby the government for a
big increase NHS funding in London to pay for new HIV treatments and for more beds,
doctors, nurses and specialists to end the crisis in the health service. If not reversed,
this NHS crisis could jeopardise the future quality of AIDS care. The case for legalising
the medical use of marijuana is overwhelming. A Royal Commission is needed to consider the
case for decriminalising recreational drug use. As part of the GLA's health promotion
initiatives, licencing of bars and clubs should be conditional on their provision of
condom vending machines and display of safer sex information. Likewise, to reduce drug
casualties, dance clubs should be required to provide free cold running water, safer drug
use information, and a qualified first aider.
8 NON-PROSECUTION OF VICTIMLESS OFFENCES
The "zero tolerance" approach to crime is seriously misguided and dangerous. In
New York, it has led to harassment of gay people and the closure of gay clubs. I plan to
use my influence with the new Metropolitan Police Authority to cut the prosecution of gays
and lesbians - and heterosexuals - for consenting behaviour. Police resources should be
concentrated on serious crimes that most concern Londoners, such as rape, assault, murder,
burglary and street robbery.
9 EQUALITY COMPLIANCE - NO EQUAL RIGHTS? NO GLA CONTRACT!
All companies doing business with the GLA should be required to have equal opportunity
policies that prohibit discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and
HIV-positive people. Companies that don't guarantee equality should not be eligible for
GLA contracts. In this way, the GLA can take a proactive role in encouraging businesses to
end homophobic discrimination.
10 SPEAKING OUT – A COMMUNITY FORUM FOR GAY LONDON
Most people are fed up with politicians telling them what is good for them. I promise to
consult and liaise with the lesbian and gay community, and to involve community groups in
the decision-making process. Through my proposed Community Forum, gays and lesbians would
be able to question the Mayor and London Assembly members and contribute new policy ideas.
I will also work to ensure that appointments to the GLA administration include strong
representation of women, black people, the disabled and lesbians and gay men.
11 LESBIAN & GAY CENTRE, HISTORY MUSEUM & ARCHIVE
A Lesbian & Gay Centre could be a valuable focus and resource for queer community
organisations and event – by providing office and meeting space for advice and
campaign groups, and a social venue hosting party and club nights. My proposed History
Museum & Archive would not only document the lives and experiences of lesbian and gay
Londoners, but also provide a permanent home and display for the Hall-Carpenter Archives.
The ideal building for the Lesbian & Gay Centre, Museum and Archive would be the
former Bow Street Police Station, where Oscar Wilde was incarcerated after his arrest in
1895.
12 A VOICE FOR JUSTICE & HUMAN RIGHTS
Although the GLA will not have the power to change national legislation, I will use my
influence as a London Assembly member to campaign for lesbian and gay human rights: the
repeal of Section 28, equalisation of the age of consent, partnership rights, and UK-wide
laws to prohibit all forms of discrimination, including on the grounds of sex,
race, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic make-up, medical condition (such as HIV
status), gender identity, and beliefs and opinions.
STAND UP FOR GAY LONDON!
VOTE TATCHELL FOR LONDON ASSEMBLY ON
4 MAY |