Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgendered Community supports maximum unity in the fight against the far right
LGBT organisations who are participating in and supporting the Unite Against Fascism campaign and its conference on Saturday 18th February have issued the following statement:
Unite Against Fascism – an alliance with all those who face the threat of the far right
As Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) organisations and individuals we support the principle that unity against fascism can only be effective by working with all those who face the threat of the far right.
The British National Party (BNP)’s politics of hatred includes attacking Muslims, the denial of the Holocaust, the aim of an “all-white Britain”, which could only be achieved through violent means, and campaigns of homophobia: They have run a gay pub landlord out of business in Burnley, liken gay men to paedophiles and have recently promoted a campaign attacking LGBT history month, describing it as an “atrocity”. They stand in the tradition of the Nazis, whose rise to power resulted in the deaths of millions of Jewish people, lesbians and gay men, disabled people, black people and trade unionists as well as others.
We cannot afford to underestimate the mortal threat that growing fascism poses to all of our communities or to be divided in the struggle against it. This means bringing together all those who are threatened by and opposed to fascism within a united anti-fascist framework. Muslim communities are a major target of BNP hate campaigning.
It is a regrettable reality that leading figures of most major religions have reactionary attitudes to homosexuality. We obviously disagree with these views. However we believe all those who oppose the BNP must be engaged with and that in turn can open a dialogue in which we seek to change such views.
Imaan – The support group for LGBT Muslims
Lesbian and Gay Coalition Against Racism
Pav Akhtar – Black Rep, Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights
Takhsin Begum – Black women’s representative, NUS LGBT Committee
Linda Bellos
Khi – Black Lesbians UK and UK BLaGcWatch
Kirsten Hearne – LGBT Liason Executive – Regard – the national organisation of Disabled Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals and Transgendered people
Caroline Jones and Michael Verrier – Co-Chairs, Broken Rainbow LGBT Domestic Violence Service (UK)
Jackie Lewis
Sharon Stacey – LGBT representative, NUS Black students committee
Ben Summerskill – Chief Executive Stonewall
Unite Against Fascism’s Conference “Act now to Stop the BNP in 2006” will take place on Saturday 18th February, 10-5.30pm TUC Congress House, Great Russell Street, London
A number of LGBT speakers will address the event including Sharon Stacey – LGBT representative, NUS Black students committee, Ben Summerskill, Chief Executive Stonewall, Kirsten Hearne – LGBT Liason Executive – Regard – the national organisation of Disabled Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals and Transgendered people, a representative of the Lesbian and Gay Coalition Against Racism and others.
Other speakers include
Ken Livingstone • Gurinder Chadha Bend it like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice director • Billy Hayes CWU General Secretary • Keith Sonnet UNISON Deputy General Secretary • Dominique Walker sister of murdered black teenager Anthony Walker • Kat Fletcher NUS President • Mick Connolly SERTUC Regional Secretary • A representative of MCB • Henry Guterman MBE Holocaust survivor • Ramesh Kalidai Hindu Forum of Britain• Linda Riordan MP • Lee Jasper NAAR • Weyman Bennett UAF • Mohammed Azam Labour Party NEC member • Glyn Ford MEP • Leon Greenman OBE Holocaust survivor • Michael Meacher MP • Ben Summerskill Stonewall Chief Executive • Sadiq Khan MP • Mark Meredith Mayor of Stoke • Lethal Bizzle MOBO-award-winning grime star • Dave Haslam acclaimed music writer and legendary Hacienda DJ • Martin Smith ANL/Love Music Hate Racism • Chris Bolton RAR/Misty in Roots • Paul Samuels A&R & LMHR collective, Atlantic Records • Lisa Moorish singer, ‘Kill City’ • Dave Laser singer, ‘Dustin’s Bar Mitzvah’• Paul Hutton Director of Metropolis Music, organisers of the V Festival • Mohammed Taj TUC General Council • Salma Yaqoob • Love Music Hate Racism