The “outing” of 10 Bishops has been more effective than years of polite lobbying, argues Peter Tatchell. It has forced the Church of England to begin a serious dialogue with the lesbian and gay community for the first time.
In 1973 in East Berlin, Peter Tatchell staged the first ever lesbian and gay rights demonstration in a communist country.
Equal rights versus queer emancipation. Recalling the radical ideals of the Gay Liberation Front, more than mere legal equality is demanded-changing society is necessary.
Stonewall’s focus on lobbying and law reform has its limitations. Direct action also has a vital role to play in the struggle for queer freedom.
Society should accept sexual difference and diversity.
In the 25 years since the Stonewall Riots it is queer self-help, not law reform, which has improved the lives of lesbian and gay people.
The bisexual American black nationalist leader, MALCOLM X, was a forceful advocate of self-help and community empowerment. Self-reliance is also the key to queer emancipation.
The separatist agendas of women, gays, black and disabled activists are divisive, and undermine the campaign for equality.
Everyone is potentially bisexual; the struggle for lesbian and gay equality is about the right of all people to share the joy of same-sex relationships without guilt or anxiety, and without the fear of prejudice and discrimination.
The Homophobic Bias Of The Criminal Justice System
