Fighting against the
"bigot's charter"
IN THE last four months, three of the biggest ever demonstrations on lesbian and gay rights have been held in
Britain. On January 9 in London, 12,000 took to the streets;
20,000 people marched in Manchester on February 20; and a massive crowd of up to 50,000 demonstrated through London on April 30. What has sparked off these incredible mobilizations is the introduction of an amendment to the Local
Government Bill, Clause 28, that threatens to criminalize any positive images of or practical support for lesbians and gays.
BRITAIN but it was also the biggest lesbian and gay demonstration ever in this country [before April 30]. We were very determined to show that lesbians and gay men are everywhere, that they don't just exist in London,
Finn Jensen asked a leading activist in the North West Campaign for Gay and Lesbian Equality in Manchester to explain the stakes involved. KURSAD KARAMONOGLU
G AY MEN and lesbians were ex-
pecting a concerted attack from the Tories sooner or later. aim of the Local Government Bill is to curb the democratic powers of elected local government. Tory MP Jill Knight's amendment - Clause 28 - adds that local councils cannot "promote" homosexuality. Once the Bill is law, the word "promotion" will have to be tested in the courts.
"Promotion" could mean: gay and lesbian books in libraries; licences for gay clubs and pubs; services like gay centres; and advice and information telephone lines for lesbians and gays — the whole range of services provided at the moment as a natural part of local government for the
The law that homosexual acts between consenting adults over 21 years of age are legal if done in private gave us the same problem as we will get now with "promotion". The lawyers did not recognize the word "private", so it was interpreted by the courts - in the most ridiculous way you can imagine. Two men kissing in a car is not private. Nor is a locked hotel room. If you live in a block of apartments and there is just one other person in the whole block who is offended by your living as a homosexual, you are not private. If this is how the courts interpret "private", you can imagine what they'll do with "promotion".
When the government realized the extent of opposition to this "bigot's charter", they tried to modify it. They added one word, "intentionally", which makes it even more
Many Conservatives are making the intention of the Clause quite clear, both in interviews and in parliament. They want to drive lesbians and gay men back into the closet. After 20 years of partial recognition they want to push us underground again. But we won't go. "We are an easy scapegoat"
We are an easy scapegoat. It is so easy to divert people's attention from serious social and economic problems by using popular prejudices. Simply by living the kind of life we do, lesbians and gays are the biggest threat to one of the fundamental ways the ruling classes keep the masses under control. The family has historically always been the unit used to control society and we are obviously a threat to the family institution. We refuse to fit into the well-defined roles. And that is really a big threat to the kind of society the Tories want to create. Remember, there are over six million of us
We have to be prepared for the implementation of the Bill once it becomes law on June 1. We have to prepare for a long battle, because we cannot accept a law that would mean a denial of ourselves. We will work to make sure that local authorities understand the issue and will fight the law. There will be battles in court, all the way to the European Court of Human Rights.
This campaign has raised political awareness among many gay men and lesbians. That is our biggest strength. In Manchester, for example, it is very important for us to involve lesbians and gays who are not normally part of campaigning.
The Manchester demonstration in February was the biggest in the city for 20 years, and that the North West has its own share.
Within the Labour Party, there was a really massive protest against the Shadow Cabinet MPs half-hearted opposition to the Clause, and within weeks we suddenly saw the line changing. Now even Labour leader Neil Kinnock is calling the Clause the "bigot's charter"!
The trade unions are a very important part of future struggles. But they are too often scared of the lesbian and gay issue. During the miners' strike, lesbian and gay support groups all around the country found it difficult at the beginning because miners - in spite of all their militancy and radicalism — were quite suspicious. But after a year of sustained support, things started to change. Only last year the gay pride march was led by a South Wales miners' banner!
We realize the importance of the support of the organized labour movement. That is why we are approaching trade unions, especially those whose members will be directly influenced by Clause 28 like teachers, who will be under immense pressure not to mention homosexuality at all.
The attacks on lesbians and gay men can be linked closely with the oppression of the Black communities. This was clear in Britain during the AIDS hysteria. The press tried to say that AIDS is a gay plague, if not a Black plague. Day by day the newspapers said that AIDS came from Africa. There were even calls from so-called respected journalists and politicians to have compulsory tests for visitors from certain African countries. At the end of the day, we have a lot of things in common, not least a com-
Finally, we hope that the national demonstration on April 30 in London will be followed by actions of supporters abroad on June 1. We are trying to organize massive international protest against this law. We are asking people — whether they are socialists, liberals, "nice" conservatives or whoever — to organize protest meetings in their own country on June 1 in front of British embassies and consulates. The real fight against the law will start at this time and we 11 appreciate any international support. * May 16, 1988 • #141 International Viewpoint