| PETER TATCHELL - HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN REPORT 2002 At the launch of the Peter Tatchell Human Rights Fund, 25 January 2002, Peter said he had no intention of resting on his laurels. True to his word, his campaigning continued unabated during the last year: Lennox Lewis - February - Boxing chiefs were shamed over their lack of disciplinary action against those responsible for the homophobic taunts against world champion Lennox Lewis. Zimbabwe Election - March - Coinciding with the rigged Presidential election in Zimbabwe, Peter joined the pro-democracy ‘hunger-strike for human rights’ outside the Zimbabwe High Commission in London. Henry Kissinger - April - A bid to have the former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, arrested on charges of war crimes in Indo-China was lost in Bow Magistrates Court; but the judge left open the possibility of resuming the case in the future. Gibraltar - May - At the Royal Commonwealth Society in London, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Peter Caruana, was publicly grilled over his government’s dismal human rights record. Mike Tyson - June - Ambushed outside a Memphis gym a few days before his world title fight against Lennox Lewis, ‘Iron Mike’ was persuaded to say he never meant to be homophobic and to make a public statement condemning anti-gay discrimination. President Mugabe - June - On a visit to Rome, the Zimbabwean President was chased around the city and subjected to a noisy middle-of-the-night protest for human rights in Zimbabwe. Blasphemy Law - July - James Kirkup’s banned ‘blasphemous’ poem was read on the steps of St Martins-in-the-Field Church on the 25th anniversary of the Gay News trial, but there were no arrests – effectively rendering the blasphemy law unenforceable and redundant. Homophobia In Pop Music - October - The MOBO black music awards were picketed in protest at the nomination of reggae singers who advocate the shooting and burning of queers. Amnesty For Gay Sex "Offenders" - December - The Home Secretary was urged to remove from the Sex Offenders Register men convicted of consenting, victimless gay sex. Damilola Taylor Inquiry - December - The Metropolitan Police Commissioner was quizzed on why the murder investigation ignored the homophobic assaults on Damilola and why officers apparently failed to consider that his killing may have been a homophobic hate crime. Books - During 2002, essays by Peter were published in Teenage Sex: What Should Schools Teach Children? (Hodder & Stoughton), and The Hate Debate: Should Hate Be Punished As A Crime? (JPR/Profile Books). Forthcoming campaigns in 2003 * Lobby the Baghdad government to free Iraqi political prisoners * A gay asylum guide to help persecuted queers - especially in Jamaica - gain asylum in the UK * Arrest warrants for President Mugabe and Henry Kissinger on charges of torture and war crimes * The prosecution of reggae singers who urge the murder of queers * Press for the release of Mordechai Vanunu, imprisoned by the Israelis since 1986 for exposing Israel’s weapons of mass destruction A Message From Peter Tatchell "My sincere gratitude to everyone who supported my human rights work during 2002. Your kindness and generosity is treasured. Please continue your financial support so I can sustain my campaigning in 2003 and beyond. Warmest regards and solidarity’’ – Peter Tatchell |