Pride

[mushroom25]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-22666063
the midlands has been blessed with fair weather for one of the regions biggest spring parties which not only celebrates equality but generates millions for the local economy.

the event was "opened" by Peter Tatchell, who was later interviewed by midlands today. in the interview he commented on how far uk equality laws had come in the last 50 years - which is true enough - but he emphasised the point by claiming that the uk had come from a starting point of the most repressive anti-gay laws in the world.

is that really true? even when set against same-sex legislation in sub saharan africa, parts of the middle east and parts of asia? where if you're gay you might - even in the 21st century - be threatened with the death penalty?

[modeller]

No it's not but I believe PT thnks so. I remember him from way back .
When he stood as a Labour candidate in 1981.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/petertatchell

[hc4361]

He firmly believes the age of consent should be lowered to 14 for all.

He has some skewed ideas.

[jake-the-peg]

Technically the UK had the death penalty for sodomy until 1861

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodomy_law#United_Kingdom

The last two englishmen to be executed were in 1831

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buggery_Act_1533


You only have to think of what happened to Alan Turing and how Churchill (PM at the time) turned his back on him to see how serious it was even in the 50's

[mushroom25]

jake, accepted that the uk wasn't the most gay-friendly place to be in the 1950s and 1960s - but at the time, the worst in the world?

[thumper93]

"He has some skewed ideas. "
really ? google age of consent (gay / straight) and in lots of countries its 14 - 16

[andy-hughes]

I think PT might have meant the Western World, rather than the entire planet - as you say, facts do not support his point.

[jake-the-peg]

No it wasn't the worst in the world then - but a couple of hundred years ago we were as bad as it got.

We'd banned slavery, but we were still killing men for sleeping together.

The point seems a bit petty to me - I can't see that saying 'yes we arrested someone like Turing who had done so much for the country, persecuted him, forced him to undergo estrogen injections until he killed himself - but at least we didn't execute him' is a great deal to shout about

[mushroom25]

//I can't see that saying 'yes we arrested someone like Turing who had done so much for the country, persecuted him, forced him to undergo estrogen injections until he killed himself - but at least we didn't execute him' //

who said that Jake? or did it get deleted while I wasn't looking?

[naomi24]

Like hc4361, I also think he has some skewed ideas. He's talking about the last 50 years - but that aside, it isn't true. I don't think UK law ever decreed that homosexuals be stoned to death - as still happens in some parts of the world.

[ludwig]

// the uk had come from a starting point of the most repressive anti-gay laws in the world. //

No. He's probably talking about the civilised world. Even then, it's probably not true.

[craft1948]

Who or what determines the 'civilized' world?

[FredPuli43]

Obvious craft.It defines itself. The civilised world is us but we may graciously admit any Europeans and white dominated parts of our old Empire, Dominions and Colonies to the category ! The rest has a view of those damned shirt-lifters and assorted effeminate types which we haven't had since, oh....1960!

[craft1948]

lol Fred, it was actually a serious question...............