Dying To Come Out - Public Meeting
July 31, 2010 14:30
Published:
June 23, 2010 21:04
by Richard |
The Conference Room, Djanogly Community Leisure Centre, Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 6ND
Places:
Flyer front
Flyer back
Chairperson, local LGBT activist, Richard McCance, will introduce:
Peter Tatchell - Human Rights campaigner and co-founder
of OUTRAGE!
Ali Hili - Iraqi gay activist in exile, and founder of IraqiLGBT
Skye Chirape - Zimbabwean lesbian activist, of NOIZY Image - mixing art & Activism
Born Free!
Britain's Supreme Court victory ruling of 8th July, 2010 that LGBT asylum seekers should not be expected to 'exercise discretion' to avoid persecution at home, overturned a previous edict that if they were 'discreet' things would be fine. This is a victory for sustained campaigning by Trade Unions and other allied groups.
The gutter press swiftly put the boot in – 'millions of gay asylum seekers will be flooding our shores', shrieked the Daily Express and Sun. Meanwhile a new Midlands immigrant removal centre is planned for Lincolnshire, warehousing yet more Refugees.
Yet homophobia is not a Global South phenomenon: it was first introduced by European colonists in the 19th Century. The distinguished Nigerian Humanist, Leo Igwe, said: 'Religion is being used to justify attacks, hatred, persecution and torture of gay people and to block efforts to decriminalise homosexuality and recognise gay rights as human rights'.
But despite the rise of fundamentalism and the extreme persecution of openly gay people throughout Africa, the Middle East, the Indian sub-continent, parts of Asia and other countries, many who made it to Britain, the land of the free, have been banged up in jail, as criminals. Is this the mark of a civilised society in 2010?
Peter Tatchell will speak about his worldwide attack on homophobia.
Skye Chirape, a lesbian activist and artist from Zimbabwe will speak on colonialism and pre-colonial conditions, homophobia, the immigration system and the importance of visibility.
Ali Hili, an Iraqi gay man will speak about the situation of lgbt people in Iraq, work on supporting asylum seekers and relocating to safer countries.
Claire a campaigning trans-activist will speak about her personal experience of transphobia.
Contact email: dunedin10@yahoo.co.uk
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