UK/EUROPEAN UNION

Cashman Demands Urgent Action on Plight of Gays in Some EU States

 
 

Euro-Parliament debates matter on Monday

  


 
 
■ Michael Cashman: “Gay pride marches are still being banned, political and religious leaders are using the language of hate and menace and police are failing to protect peaceful demonstrations and break up violent unrest by homophobic groups.”		  

WEST BROMWICH, January 13, 2006  –  Labour MEP Michael Cashman (UK, West Midlands) has today expressed his “grave concern” about increasing homophobia in Europe.

And, ironically, he was speaking as news was coming in from Estonia that a blatantly homophobic politician was calling for homosexuality to be criminalised.

Cashman, the former EastEnders actor who presides over the European Parliament’s Intergroup on gay and lesbian rights, is leading a charge in the European Parliament to demand that European Union governments respect anti-discrimination laws and that urgent action is taken to stop on violent crimes against gays and lesbians.

In a motion condemning homophobia, a situation which he says is gathering momentum in Poland, Latvia and other EU countries,  Cashman has joined forces with Conservatives, Liberals and Green MEPs to demand swift action by the European Commission against governments which turn a blind eye to verbal, violent and legal discrimination.

“Our own government in the UK has only just recently granted gays and lesbians financial security and equal status to married couples with the civil partnerships bill,” said Cashman, who is himself taking up the right to a Civil Partnership with his partner this year.

“We need to fight across Europe for similar equality but, worryingly, many European countries are not nearly at this stage.  Some choose to ignore EU laws against discrimination.

“Gay pride marches are still being banned, political and religious leaders are using the language of hate and menace and police are failing to protect peaceful demonstrations and break up violent unrest by homophobic groups.

“The Latvian and Lithuanian governments are currently passing amendments to their national constitutions prohibiting same sex unions.

“Gay rights are improving in some countries but it is patently obvious that increasing liberty is not a reality for gays throughout the EU.

“We need the Commission to tell us how many EU governments are failing to adhere to anti-discrimination legislation and what they intend to do about those who are ignoring it.”

Citing the UN Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the resolution condemns incitement to discrimination, ridicule, verbal, psychological and physical violence, persecution, murder and limited rights.

The European Commission will make a statement on homophobia at the plenary sitting of the Parliament in Strasbourg on Monday (January 16).  Michael Cashman will speak in the debate.  The statement and debate will take place at 5pm (CET - 4pm UK) on Monday.

LINKS

Michael Cashman's website

 
 

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January 13: 
Estonia:  Homophobic Conservative Outburst Calls for Criminalisation of Gays.  In an amazing homophobic outburst, the Estonian Convervatives Club and its leader Martin Helme have published a statement today which has shocked the country’s gays.

January 11: 
UK:  Major Fires Guts Gay Sauna in Manchester.  A gay men’s sauna was gutted in a major fire in Fourways House, city centre, last night.  The fire broke out at the Basement Health Club just after midnight and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service sent “14 pumps and about 70 firefighters” to the blaze.

January 10: 
Estonia:  First Test of Tolerance and Common European Values in Estonia for Gays.  Days before Christmas, the Ministry of Social Affairs in Estonia called for a public debate on same-sex relationships.  In many ways, it was a ‘seasonal gift’ to the country’s gay community – but it turned out to be short-lived as Estonia could be heading in the same direction as their Baltic neighbours Latvia and Lithuania.

UK:  Gay Cowboy Film’s Million Pound UK Opening.  Brokeback Mountain, the ‘gay cowboy romance’ starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, opened strongly in the United Kingdom last weekend.

January 9: 
USA:  Operation ‘Mockingbird’:  County Rallies to Aid Dying Lesbian.  In the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch stands alone to do the right thing.  Today, people across the world are standing with Laurel Hester, a dying lesbian New Jersey police officer, by sending copies of the classic book To Kill a Mockingbird to the officials in Ocean County, who are refusing to grant pension benefits to Hester and her partner Stacie Andree.

January 6: 
Jamaica:  Tragic End to Attempted Gay-Bash Attack in Kingston.  A young Jamaican man has died, allegedly after being hounded through the streets of Kingston by a homophobic mob who believed he was gay.

USA:  Gay Soldier Attacked at Fort Huachuca is Discharged From US Army.  Kyle Lawson, the 19-year old Army Private who was recently attacked by a fellow soldier who learned Lawson is gay, was discharged yesterday from the Army.

Film:   Brokeback Mountain: A Gift of Superb Acting.  By Dan Wentzel.  An openly gay actor in Southern California on "Brokeback Mountain" which open in major UK cities today.

January 5: 
Poland:  The “Battle of Poznań”:  Court Dismisses Charges Against Equality March Protesters.  Criminal charges against 53 participants – which included gays and lesbians – in the ‘Equality March’ in Poznań last November have been dropped.

January 4: 
UK:  Muslim Leader Urged to Drop Homophobia.  It is sad to see the leader of the Muslim community attacking the gay community, Peter Tatchell of the gay human rights group OutRage! said today following comments made yesterday by a Muslim leader on BBC Radio.

January 3: 
Russia:  Gay Pride March in Moscow Will Be Under Watchful Eye of International Community.  Commentary.  The Russian gay and lesbian community are convinced that 2006 will be a watershed year.  Some have said that the projected Moscow Pride – the first-ever in the city – is doomed to failure.  Russia, they say, is just not ready for a “Pride” event, let alone the accompanying “cultural” festival.

Posted: 13 January 2006 at 19:00 (UK time)

 

 

 
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