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UNITED NATIONS/FRANCE

From an Arrest in Paris During a Gay Rights Demo, Via a French Minister, to the United Nations

The unsung hero of next week’s UN anti-homophobia resolution and his significant role
 

■ French LGBT and human rights activist Louis-Georges Tin.

UK Gay News Commentary

When France proposes in the next week or two to the General Assembly of the United Nations that the UN has a declaration calling for an end to discrimination against gay men and women, together with bisexuals and transgender persons, it will be a milestone.

It will be a rare occasion that the General Assembly itself has specifically addressed LGBT rights, calling for the decriminalising of homosexuality world-wide.

And kick-starting the whole process with the French Government was not a ‘high-powered’ non-governmental organisation (NGO), but an ad hoc group, with no committee to speak of, not even a couple of Euros in the bank – let alone any staff in smart  suits who hob-nob with politicians.

It all started last May in Paris.  And it happened because of a gay rights demonstration, arrests by a zealous gendarme or two, a chance phone call to a mobile phone by a member of the government …

Only in France!

It was on May 16 at an event in Paris to mark International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO).  The local organisers decided to have a “die-in” outside the Presidential Palace to highlight the countries in the world that still execute gays.

The gendarmes thought that perhaps a ‘die-in’ in front of the Presidential Palace was not really ‘the done thing’, so arrests were made.

One of those arrested was the well-know French human rights activist Louis-Georges Tin, the founder of IDAHO.

Word of Monsieur Tin’s arrest spread like crazy among the progressive political parties and NGOs.

It was not long before M. Tin’s mobile phone rang.

As he got his phone out of his pocket, the gendarme told him in no uncertain terms not to answer it.  “But it’s the Human Rights Minister,” Mr. Tin told his captor.

And indeed it was – Rama Yade had heard what happened and was phoning to find out what the problem was.  She suggested an immediate meeting.

It took a couple of hours to be released.  But M. Tin, with other LGBT representatives duly met with Ms. Yade the following day.  She vowed to do something about world-wide homophobia, suggesting “a European initiative calling for the universal decriminalisation of homosexuality”.

Additionally, she pledged to the delegation that the French Government would officially recognise IDAHO day, which is held annually on May 17.

“It is a remarkable decision by the French Government,” Mr. Tin told UK Gay News following the meeting with Ms. Yade.

“The IDAHO committee wants to thank the French government for these two historical decisions. The Day was already officially recognised by the European Parliament, Belgium, United Kingdom, Mexico, Costa-Rica, and several cities or provinces around the world.

“Now, France joins the group, and we hope more and more countries will give LGBT militants a symbolical tool to favour practical action.”

The promise by Ms. Yade to get something going internationally about decriminalisation homosexuality slowly began to develop.  France took the matter to the European Union where it was agreed that during the country’s six-month presidency of the EU (which ends at the end of the year), France would raise the matter at the United Nations – with the backing of all 27 counties in the EU.

“It is quite amazing that an organisation without any funds or staff should have played such a significant part in enabling this declaration to be heard at the General Assembly of the United Nations,” Derek Leonard, the UK coordinator of IDAHO, said this afternoon.

“I would like to congratulate the International Day Against Homophobia, and its founder Louis-George Tin for playing such an important role in negotiating the UN declaration with the French government – and also campaigners around the world who have taken action, sometimes at great risk to themselves to support the aims of IDAHO.

“This will encourage campaigners around the world to organise IDAHO events on and around May 17 with increased vigour and determination.

So far, just over 50 countries are signed-up to the resolution – and more are expected.  The resolution is ‘non-binding’.

Coming out against the resolution has been The Vatican, which has observer status at the United Nations.

Monsignor Celestino Migliore, the Vatican’s permanent observer at the UN, said the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church forbade “unjust discrimination” against homosexuals, The Times reported yesterday.

However, the cleric continued, outlawing discrimination by means of a UN declaration meant that states which did not recognise same sex marriages would come under pressure to do so.

Among those condemning to stance taken by the Vatican is the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA).

Secretary David Christmas today described the statement as “ludicrous”.

“The accusation that it is in some way discriminatory to attempt to counteract the prejudice and hatred which exists in over 80 countries that outlaw same sex relations, would appear to be yet another example of the Vatican turning logical thinking on its head.”

Mr Christmas pointed out that in nine countries or regions of countries the mandatory punishment for homosexuality is death by execution.

“Isn’t the Vatican supposed to believe in the right to life”, he asked?

A GALHA spokesperson pointed out that in 2009 the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association will be marking its 30th anniversary. “That’s 30 years of counteracting the religious intolerance which does so much to impair the progress of LGBT Rights in the UK and around the world,” he spokesperson said.

“The appalling bigotry of the Vatican as highlighted by this statement can only motivate us to redouble our efforts in this regard.”
 

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