Gay Rights

I went to a party last night. It was given by Tom Robinson, he of "Sing if you're glad to be gay" fame. He's a really top bloke and his site is well worth checking out.

Some of the lyrics from the infamous song are here:

" The British Police are the best in the world
I don't believe one of these stories I've heard
'Bout them raiding our pubs for no reason at all
Lining the customers up by the wall
Picking out people and knocking them down
Resisting arrest as they're kicked on the ground
Searching their houses and calling them queer
I don't believe that sort of thing happens here"

Also met the editor of Gay times, and asked him about doing some work experience for him. I have had the idea of doing a short piece on gay rights. I thought I could interview Peter Tatchell (site here, another top bloke), maybe Tom Robinson as well, and maybe someone from Amnesty as well.

Gay Human Rights abuses

There are some shocking abuses of human rights described here:

Last June, two police officers beat Victor Jarrett, 24, near Montego Bay. His crime? They suspected he might be gay. As the officers continued to beat Jarrett, a large mob armed with stones and sticks soon gathered.

Other examples here:

"The crowd stood around watching chanting 'battyman, battyman, battyman' .... The crowd beat, punched and kicked him. They threw water from the gutter and garbage on him. Then they dragged him down the road ... They shouted 'battyman fi' dead'. As I stood across the street I realised there was nothing I could do to help him. Some mothers were actually in tears at what they were witnessing but there was nothing they could do either ... The crowd was saying 'Give him to us! Let us kill him! He’s a battyman!'" Eyewitness statement of how six men blocked a road to beat a gay man.

PS Have just found out that Peter Tatchell has already written an article on this very subject:

"News feature: State control: Peter Tatchell looks at the shocking use of male rape as a weapon to control opponents of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe"

More info:

Amnesty International has expressed deep sadness at the death of leading Jamaican gay rights activist Brian Williamson, who was brutally murdered on 9 June 2004, and has urged the Jamaican authorities to ensure that his death is thoroughly and impartially investigated.

Amnesty International said:

“Brian Williamson was a courageous individual prepared to speak out for one of the most marginalised and persecuted communities in Jamaica: the gay and lesbian community. The loss of such a fearless champion of human rights is a tragedy. He will be sorely missed.”

Human Rights Watch has some more info on the situation in Saudi Arabia

"In sentencing more than 100 men to imprisonment and flogging after unfair trials for reputed homosexual conduct, Saudi Arabia has advertised its contempt for the basic rights to privacy, fair trials and freedom from torture, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists said today."