Peter Tatchell's message to Glastonbury Pride 2009"I wish Glastonbury Pride every success. Have a fabulous Pink Picnic.“This year we are celebrating 40 years since the Stonewall Riots in New York, which triggered the world-wide movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) human rights.“Pride is a great celebration. But there is a serious side too. We are still campaigning for LGBT equality."The LGBT community in Britain has made great strides towards equality, but we have not yet won equal treatment.“The Labour government, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems support the ban on same-sex marriage. Civil partnerships are not equality. They are a form of sexual apartheid, with different laws for gay and straight couples.“Gay and bisexual men are prohibited from donating blood, even if they always practice safe sex and have tested HIV-negative.“Successive Home Secretaries have given visas and work permits to reggae singers who incite the murder of gay people. Such incitement is a serious criminal offence.“The government’s current Equality Bill is supposed to ensure equal rights for everyone but it specifically denies lesbian and gay people protection against harassment.“Labour’s many commendable gay law reforms are no excuse for its stonewalling on the abolition of these remaining aspects of homophobic discrimination.“We won’t stop campaigning until we win full respect, acceptance, dignity and human rights,” said Mr Tatchell.More information: Peter Tatchell 0207 403 1790peter@petertatchell.net
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