Activists Clash over Respect candidates' 'Death to Gays' policy
AXM | 02.10.2005 23:03 | Analysis | Gender | Birmingham
According to the newly-published October 2005 issue of gay magazine AXM, a prominent member of Respect and former West Midlands general election candidate Dr Muhamud Naseem has been advocating the extermination of gay men. The accusations came in an interview with Brett Lock, an activist with the gay direct action group OutRage!, which has been engaged in a long-running dispute with Respect over its policies on secularism, sexual freedom and rights for women.
This month has also seen a scathing attack on Respect by long-established journal Gay Times. In a ranking of political parties' attitudes to gay people, Respect are graded bottom of the main parties, behind the Conservatives. The Greens were voted highest.
Respect has not yet responded to the criticisms, although its most recent conference resolution commits it to
"An end to discrimination against lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people
For Equal partnership and pension rights
For strong policies to tackle homophobia in all public bodies
For an increase in public services that meet the needs of lesbians, gay men bisexuals and transgendered people, rather than money wasted on war."
The formal alliance between SWP-aligned activists and some faith groups in the wake of the anti-war movement has provoked polarised debate about secularism, the state and personal belief throughout leftist politics. Similarly, the rapid expansion of anarchist anti-capitalist activism in the past five years has lead to concerns, particularly in Central Europe, that reactionary organisations and individuals are attempting to turn the movement towards authoritarian goals. Recent newsire debates on Indymedia have shown a suprisingly high amount of homophobia amongst users, although Indymedia volunteers are keen to emphasise that most of this activity is from known 'trolls'.
This month has also seen a scathing attack on Respect by long-established journal Gay Times. In a ranking of political parties' attitudes to gay people, Respect are graded bottom of the main parties, behind the Conservatives. The Greens were voted highest.
Respect has not yet responded to the criticisms, although its most recent conference resolution commits it to
"An end to discrimination against lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people
For Equal partnership and pension rights
For strong policies to tackle homophobia in all public bodies
For an increase in public services that meet the needs of lesbians, gay men bisexuals and transgendered people, rather than money wasted on war."
The formal alliance between SWP-aligned activists and some faith groups in the wake of the anti-war movement has provoked polarised debate about secularism, the state and personal belief throughout leftist politics. Similarly, the rapid expansion of anarchist anti-capitalist activism in the past five years has lead to concerns, particularly in Central Europe, that reactionary organisations and individuals are attempting to turn the movement towards authoritarian goals. Recent newsire debates on Indymedia have shown a suprisingly high amount of homophobia amongst users, although Indymedia volunteers are keen to emphasise that most of this activity is from known 'trolls'.
AXM
Comments
Display the following 19 comments