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Tag: Downing Street

All the latest breaking news on Downing Street. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on Downing Street.

  • Theresa May ends Downing Street ban for Peter Tatchell

    Theresa May ends Downing Street ban for Peter Tatchell

    Theresa May has become the first Prime Minister to end the exclusion of one of the UK’s most prominent LGBT+ rights campaigners from attending functions at 10 Downing Street.

    10 Downing Street
    CREDIT: TheGayUK/Jake Hook

    Peter Tatchell will now be able to enter 10 Downing Street after Theresa May ended a ban on the human rights advocate from attending any functions at the exclusive address. It’s not known whether his ban was deliberate or just careless.

    For a decade, Peter has found himself uninvited to an annual Pride party held at 10 Downing Street. The exclusion started during Tony Blair’s premiership to David Cameron’s. This is despite Peter’s unwavering fight for rights since 1972.

    CREDIT: Monty McKinnen

    Peter Tatchell said, “Since the inception of Downing Street LGBT Pride receptions a decade ago, I have been banned from attending by successive Prime Ministers – Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron.

    “Despite my 51 years of campaigning, and my role in the UK’s first Pride parade in 1972, they apparently deemed me to be the unacceptable face of LGBT activism.

    “I was therefore surprised and delighted that Theresa May has invited me to this year’s reception on 3 July – just days after I wrote to her urging compensation for gay men convicted under past anti-gay laws.

    “I am not much fussed about attending such receptions but I am honoured to be asked and have accepted the invitation.

    “I look forward to meeting the Prime Minister and reiterating my call for gay victims of homophobic laws, who suffered so badly, to receive government compensation.

    “She has already acknowledged the grave injustice done to these men, so I hope she will go one step further and recognise that these men deserve recompense for the terrible trauma of criminalisation that they went through.”

    This year’s annual LGBT Pride party takes place on the 3rd July.

  • Russia’s Anti-Gay Laws To Be Protested Outside Downing Street

    Love Russia, Hate Homophobia protest called for 3rd September outside Downing Street.

    Over a thousand people have signified that they are going to attend a ‘day of action’ outside Downing Street on the 3rd September 2013 to protest the Russian government’s treatment of LGBT people.

    The protest is due to take place just days before the world’s leaders meet in St. Petersburg, Russia for the G20, which President Putin hosts this year.

    The protest organisers are calling all participants to meet outside Downing Street from 5pm – 8pm.

    Peter Tatchell, the veteran human rights campaigner said in a statement,

    “There can be no normal sporting relations with an abnormal authoritarian regime like Putin’s Russia. The attack on the LGBT community is one fragment of a much wider attack on human rights. It is important to encourage an alliance between LGBT and straight Russians to defend freedom of expression for all the people of Russia. LGBT people need allies to win and all Russians who love democracy and human rights deserve our support.

    “The anti-gay legislation will prevent LGBT teens from being told that it’s okay to be gay and from receiving HIV prevention information about how to have gay sex safely.

    “Long before this law was passed, I was beaten up with police collusion and arrested in Moscow for holding a sign saying “Gay Rights”. I still live with the brain and eye injuries incurred. Many Russian LGBT campaigners and other human rights defenders have also been bashed and arrested. They are heroes of the LGBT freedom struggle. They stand and fight. Their courage is awesome. We have a duty to support them.”

    Meanwhile LGBT organisations across the world are planning their own protests on the 3rd September, which is hoped will bring visibility to the violations against the LGBT community in Russia.

     

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