I'm not so sure that the Ugandans will take a whole load of notice of me, but I can't just sit by and watch while their Parliament debates a bill that would bring in the death penalty for being gay. And, actually,commuting it to 7 years in jail isn't acceptable either.
How can any state consider murdering people or locking them up just for being who they are? It's something that should concern us all.
Like Andrew, I've signed the All Out petition on the basis that international pressure worked the last time this measure was debated. Let's show Uganda, it's Parliament and President that we still feel as strongly. Please sign and share today.
Showing posts with label LGBT issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LGBT issues. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Keep up the pressure to save Brenda Namigadde from deportation
Last Friday I wrote about how Ugandan lesbian Brenda Namigadde faced deportation because a Court had ruled that there was no evidence that she was in fact homosexual.
I really don't want to see us going down the route of the Courts making arbitrary judgements over someone's sexuality.
Political Scrapbook had a story yesterday which alleged that the judgement had been made at least in part because Brenda had no literature relating to her sexual orientation. How ridiculous! And if she had have done, how would that have proved that she was a lesbian? It's just irrelevant, and I find it unacceptable that Judges' subjective view of how lesbians "should" behave, when there is a fair chance they have no idea of any such thing, form the basis of a decision which could lead to someone's death.
Thankfully, Brenda was given a last minute reprieve - apparently after she had been put on the plane to take her to Uganda. Her case will now go to judicial review.
I hope that that comes out in her favour. However, if not, she'll face deportation again. That's why it's important to do what we can to raise awareness of her situation and encourage people to write to Theresa May. She could end this by looking at her case and using the discretion we know she has to allow Brenda to stay.
Chicken Yoghurt has a more comprehensive list of e-mail addresses for the Home Office in his blog post about Brenda.
As an aside, I see in the BBC report that Labour Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says:
I really don't want to see us going down the route of the Courts making arbitrary judgements over someone's sexuality.
Political Scrapbook had a story yesterday which alleged that the judgement had been made at least in part because Brenda had no literature relating to her sexual orientation. How ridiculous! And if she had have done, how would that have proved that she was a lesbian? It's just irrelevant, and I find it unacceptable that Judges' subjective view of how lesbians "should" behave, when there is a fair chance they have no idea of any such thing, form the basis of a decision which could lead to someone's death.
Thankfully, Brenda was given a last minute reprieve - apparently after she had been put on the plane to take her to Uganda. Her case will now go to judicial review.
I hope that that comes out in her favour. However, if not, she'll face deportation again. That's why it's important to do what we can to raise awareness of her situation and encourage people to write to Theresa May. She could end this by looking at her case and using the discretion we know she has to allow Brenda to stay.
Chicken Yoghurt has a more comprehensive list of e-mail addresses for the Home Office in his blog post about Brenda.
As an aside, I see in the BBC report that Labour Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says:
"LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender] people in Uganda have faced arbitrary arrests, unlawful detention and ill treatment, and the new plans for even more homophobic laws are deeply worrying."That's all very well, but I'm not sure I can ever forgive (actually, I am sure, I can't) Yvette Cooper, or anyone else who was in the last Labour Cabinet responsible for a policy of deporting gay people and telling them to be discreet. By their deeds you shall know them and all that.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Government must not allow Brenda Namigadde to be deported to Uganda
We will stop the deportation of asylum seekers who have had to leave particular countries because their sexual orientation or gender identification puts them at proven risk of imprisonment, torture or executionThere it is, clear as day, from page 18 of the Coalition Agreement. At the time, it was so reassuring to see. Under Labour, LGBT people had disgracefully been told to be discreet if their country of origin took a dim view of their sexuality. It was good to see in black and white that the Coalition, even with Tories in it, took the right, humanitarian approach.
Today the Guardian has a report that Brenda Namigadde, a Ugandan lesbian, faces imminent deportation because a judge doesn't consider that there is enough evidence of homosexuality. I think it's a very worrying development if the judiciary starts to question someone's sexuality. I mean, how on earth do you prove something that by its very nature is private and relationships may have been conducted in secret? People may not be willing to give the names of partners for fear of them being persecuted. In this case, though, there is evidence both of a previous relationship and of persecution because of it.
Theresa May as Home Secretary has discretion to allow someone to remain here in compelling and compassionate circumstances. Do you get more compelling than a direct threat to you from an MP who wants to have LGBT people put to death as the Guardian reports.
I've written to Theresa May, e-mailing her on public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk asking her to use her discretion to allow Brenda to stay in the UK. It would be an outrage to deport someone to a country where a prominent gay rights activist has been brutally murdered only this week.
This is a big test of the Coalition's new policy and I want to see it pass with flying colours.
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
When Helen Duffett met Iain Dale
Why would a woman from Scotland spend a Monday evening listening to a local London radio station? And why would she consider making it a regular date? Every Monday at 8, LBC has a bloggers' panel. Last night it was chaired by the one Jennie refers to as the Egregious Tory Tosser who was sitting in for the regular presenter who was sick.
I hesitate to say anything nice about the King of the Tory Blogosphere, but he's unlikely to read this, nor is anyone who knows him and is likely to tell him, so I'm fairly safe, but actually, he's really good at this radio presenting lark. He's assured without being a prat about it, interesting, witty and very engaging. I was so interested that I actually kept listening until the end of the show at ten, when the subjects under discussion were the Greencoat Boy incident (of which more later) and Martin Amis' comment that only depressing books win prizes. It was quite funny to hear Iain suddenly remember that he'd chucked Martin Amis out of Politicos for smoking. I mean, who would smoke in a book shop? Nothing there could catch fire, could it?
The panel comprised Tory Bear, Alex Hilton and my reason for listening, my mate Helen Duffett. Not only did she have to engage in sparky debate for an hour, she also had me stalking her via Twitter. She mentioned the word elephant within the first 5 minutes, so I challenged her to get the first word I associate with elephants, Millennium in as well. And she did it, in the dying moments of the show.
The subects under discussion ranged from spending cuts, to William Hague's surprisingly friendly toned comments about Europe, to the election of the deputy speakers in the Commons.
I rather liked Helen's first major contribution to the debate (after a plug for the Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards) in which she said that that it was people that mattered, not pounds. That sort of commitment to protect the vulnerable is what the Lib Dems bring to this coalition.
Another great moment for her came when an idiot phoned in saying that Child Benefit should be scrapped because it only encouraged people to have children. Helen stepped in and said that she had 4 children, and she certainly didn't do it for the money. Iain Dale very cheekily asked her why she'd had 4 children, like it was any of his or anybody else's business and she replied, quick as a flash, "to pay your pension, Iain." I relayed this exchange via Twitter, Iain Dale saw it and read it out on air.
He read out another tweet of mine on air a bit later, too, when discussing the Greencoat Boy. Now, I think that what happened to LGBT Labour, when they were effectively refused service on Saturday night, was absolutely appalling. The company who owns the pub does seem to have been falling over itself since then to make it up to them, to their credit, but it should never, ever have happened. On this issue, I am completely on LGBT Labour's side. However, I am still pretty darned livid at the way in which Labour tweeters through buckets of bile at David Laws last week when understanding would have been more appropriate. If it had been a Labour minister who had had the same circumstances, I would have backed him or her up. So, I tweeted that I wondered whether the LGBT Labour people would have more sympathy for David Laws having suffered such homophobia themselves. Iain put that to the chair of LGBT Labour, with the addition that I was making a political point - but certainly no more point scoring than Labour have been engaging in on this issue. I wasn't impressed with his answer, which said so little that I can't actually remember what it was.
All in all, this show was a good way to spend a Monday evening. I reckon Iain should get his own regular radio slot and it's always lovely to hear Helen. Whenever she's on the radio she always comes out with something pertinent in a memorable and original way.
I hesitate to say anything nice about the King of the Tory Blogosphere, but he's unlikely to read this, nor is anyone who knows him and is likely to tell him, so I'm fairly safe, but actually, he's really good at this radio presenting lark. He's assured without being a prat about it, interesting, witty and very engaging. I was so interested that I actually kept listening until the end of the show at ten, when the subjects under discussion were the Greencoat Boy incident (of which more later) and Martin Amis' comment that only depressing books win prizes. It was quite funny to hear Iain suddenly remember that he'd chucked Martin Amis out of Politicos for smoking. I mean, who would smoke in a book shop? Nothing there could catch fire, could it?
The panel comprised Tory Bear, Alex Hilton and my reason for listening, my mate Helen Duffett. Not only did she have to engage in sparky debate for an hour, she also had me stalking her via Twitter. She mentioned the word elephant within the first 5 minutes, so I challenged her to get the first word I associate with elephants, Millennium in as well. And she did it, in the dying moments of the show.
The subects under discussion ranged from spending cuts, to William Hague's surprisingly friendly toned comments about Europe, to the election of the deputy speakers in the Commons.
I rather liked Helen's first major contribution to the debate (after a plug for the Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards) in which she said that that it was people that mattered, not pounds. That sort of commitment to protect the vulnerable is what the Lib Dems bring to this coalition.
Another great moment for her came when an idiot phoned in saying that Child Benefit should be scrapped because it only encouraged people to have children. Helen stepped in and said that she had 4 children, and she certainly didn't do it for the money. Iain Dale very cheekily asked her why she'd had 4 children, like it was any of his or anybody else's business and she replied, quick as a flash, "to pay your pension, Iain." I relayed this exchange via Twitter, Iain Dale saw it and read it out on air.
He read out another tweet of mine on air a bit later, too, when discussing the Greencoat Boy. Now, I think that what happened to LGBT Labour, when they were effectively refused service on Saturday night, was absolutely appalling. The company who owns the pub does seem to have been falling over itself since then to make it up to them, to their credit, but it should never, ever have happened. On this issue, I am completely on LGBT Labour's side. However, I am still pretty darned livid at the way in which Labour tweeters through buckets of bile at David Laws last week when understanding would have been more appropriate. If it had been a Labour minister who had had the same circumstances, I would have backed him or her up. So, I tweeted that I wondered whether the LGBT Labour people would have more sympathy for David Laws having suffered such homophobia themselves. Iain put that to the chair of LGBT Labour, with the addition that I was making a political point - but certainly no more point scoring than Labour have been engaging in on this issue. I wasn't impressed with his answer, which said so little that I can't actually remember what it was.
All in all, this show was a good way to spend a Monday evening. I reckon Iain should get his own regular radio slot and it's always lovely to hear Helen. Whenever she's on the radio she always comes out with something pertinent in a memorable and original way.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Nick Clegg's Fabulous Attitude on Equal Marriage
Nick Clegg has laid out five key changes the Liberal Democrats would make to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people were treated equally under the law.
In an interview with Attitude, reported in the Independent, he says that we would:
1 Make sure that children in all schools are taught that homosexuality is "normal and harmless" so that they grow up learning to accept everybody. Schools would also have to address homophobic as well as racist and sexist bullyng. There is no justification for allowing prejudice against people being who they are. My daughter's only 10, but kids in her playground are already using homophobic insults. I'm glad that she will stand up and say she thinks it's wrong for them to do so, but she shouldn't be leading the fight against it.
2 Have one form of marriage for everybody.
3 Allow gay men to give blood. Every single day I hear adverts from the Blood Transfusion Service encouraging people to give blood. They've reported how stocks have become low during the cold weather. Yet there's an automatic ban on any man who's ever had sex with another man on donating their perfectly healthy blood, which makes absolutely no sense.
4 Give asylum to any person fleeing persecution for their sexual orientation as we do for religious and political persecution.
5 Review Uganda's Commonwwealth membership because of its new law introducing the death penalty for homosexuals. I think that probably means kicking Uganda out. I certainly don't see why it should have the ecoonomic benefits and international standing that Commonwealth membership gives it while it discriminates in this way.
To me all of this is just basic common sense. It's also a statement of our long held core beliefs, that nobody should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. That was written in to our constitution when the party was formed.
We have to give Labour credit for the progress they have made on LGBT issues during their time in Government. The Tories, however, are a different kettle of fish. People who are still on their benches in the House of Commons brought in Section 28. Cuddly Ken Clarke, often put out as the affable face of the Conservatives was part of that Government. I instinctively don't trust them on any sort of equality issue. It will be interesting to see if David Cameron's reaction is. Our policies are the logical extension of a commitment to equal rights for gay people. Will his deeds match his actions?
I'm proud of Nick for the open, relaxed and very matter of fact way he presents and stands by liberal ideas on a whole range of things. When I see him on the tv, he's the same Nick I first met 12 years ago, completely genuine. The public already has a very high opinion of him - a whole range of polls gives him a very healthy aproval rating and I think that trend will continue in the coming months as they get to know him more.
In an interview with Attitude, reported in the Independent, he says that we would:
1 Make sure that children in all schools are taught that homosexuality is "normal and harmless" so that they grow up learning to accept everybody. Schools would also have to address homophobic as well as racist and sexist bullyng. There is no justification for allowing prejudice against people being who they are. My daughter's only 10, but kids in her playground are already using homophobic insults. I'm glad that she will stand up and say she thinks it's wrong for them to do so, but she shouldn't be leading the fight against it.
2 Have one form of marriage for everybody.
3 Allow gay men to give blood. Every single day I hear adverts from the Blood Transfusion Service encouraging people to give blood. They've reported how stocks have become low during the cold weather. Yet there's an automatic ban on any man who's ever had sex with another man on donating their perfectly healthy blood, which makes absolutely no sense.
4 Give asylum to any person fleeing persecution for their sexual orientation as we do for religious and political persecution.
5 Review Uganda's Commonwwealth membership because of its new law introducing the death penalty for homosexuals. I think that probably means kicking Uganda out. I certainly don't see why it should have the ecoonomic benefits and international standing that Commonwealth membership gives it while it discriminates in this way.
To me all of this is just basic common sense. It's also a statement of our long held core beliefs, that nobody should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. That was written in to our constitution when the party was formed.
We have to give Labour credit for the progress they have made on LGBT issues during their time in Government. The Tories, however, are a different kettle of fish. People who are still on their benches in the House of Commons brought in Section 28. Cuddly Ken Clarke, often put out as the affable face of the Conservatives was part of that Government. I instinctively don't trust them on any sort of equality issue. It will be interesting to see if David Cameron's reaction is. Our policies are the logical extension of a commitment to equal rights for gay people. Will his deeds match his actions?
I'm proud of Nick for the open, relaxed and very matter of fact way he presents and stands by liberal ideas on a whole range of things. When I see him on the tv, he's the same Nick I first met 12 years ago, completely genuine. The public already has a very high opinion of him - a whole range of polls gives him a very healthy aproval rating and I think that trend will continue in the coming months as they get to know him more.
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