Peter Tatchell Is Branded Racist And Transphobic.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3446588/Now-Peter-Tatchell-anti-free-speech-zealots-Student-union-officer-refuses-share-platform-veteran-gay-campaigner-saying-racist-transphobic.html

Is there no end to such accusations?

[jourdain2]

It's called freedom of speech, isn't it? Universities are the places where your minds are changed and opened (or closed).

[Khandro]

Though I have taught in several, I've never before just now, looked up the definition of one, and got;
"u·ni·ver·si·ty (yo͞o′nə-vûr′sĭ-tē)
n. pl. u·ni·ver·si·ties
1. An institution for higher learning with teaching and research facilities typically including a graduate school and professional schools that award master's degrees and doctorates and an undergraduate division that awards bachelor's degrees."

Which seems about right, I don't believe a university is a place where any oaf is free to speak about any subject, I would go to the pub for that.

[Lynn_M]

Peter Tatchell was part of a group that picketed a BBC studio when Nick Griffin appeared on Question Time, so it serves him right. He doesn't care much for the free speech of anyone that speaks out against immigration.

What's more, not only did Tatchell campaign for the arrest of Robert 'Ebagum' Mugabe, he was also seen wearing a black overcoat. As you all know, any criticism of a black person is extremely 'racist' and the wearing of black garments is insulting to the black community.

Peter Tatchell is a racistbigotnaziwhitesupremacist

[andy-hughes]

Lynn_M - //Peter Tatchell was part of a group that picketed a BBC studio when Nick Griffin appeared on Question Time, so it serves him right. He doesn't care much for the free speech of anyone that speaks out against immigration. //

Picketing is showing a view on someone's free speech, which is not the same as denying it - Mr Griffin did appear on the programme, and was memorably laughable, killing his political career instantly.

[andy-hughes]

Lynn_M - //What's more, not only did Tatchell campaign for the arrest of Robert 'Ebagum' Mugabe, he was also seen wearing a black overcoat. As you all know, any criticism of a black person is extremely 'racist' and the wearing of black garments is insulting to the black community. //

If that's an attempt at irony, it's really not very clever, or factual.

Mr Tatchell did attempt to carry out a citizen's arrest on Mr Mugabe, and got a serious beating from Mr Mugabe's entourage for his trouble.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, I think the point Lynn is making is that Peter Tatchell is eager to deny people freedom of speech if he doesn’t agree with what they say – and she’s right. Had the BBC been stupid enough to concede to the wishes of the demonstrators on that occasion, he clearly wouldn’t have complained.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - //andy-hughes, I think the point Lynn is making is that Peter Tatchell is eager to deny people freedom of speech if he doesn’t agree with what they say – and she’s right. //

I repeat my point - protesting against someone appearing in a programme is not reasonably likely to end with that person being denied their appearance on the basis of the protest - that would indeed be denial of free speech. But I am sure Mr Tatchell and others knew that their protest was highly unlikely to create the precedent of the BBC backing down to a demonstration and allowing its programme content to be dictated by a minority of people who felt like making a noise outside its wondows.

//Had the BBC been stupid enough to concede to the wishes of the demonstrators on that occasion, he clearly wouldn’t have complained.//

But it didn't, and it was never likely to - Mr Tatchell knows that as well as you and I.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, none of that is the point at issue. He attempted to deny another man freedom of speech. The fact that he failed in his quest is irrelevant. It's a matter of principle.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - //He attempted to deny another man freedom of speech. //

I can only repeat my original point - making your adverse feelings about something clear is not the same as attempting to deny its taking place.

Trying to incite people to block Mr Griffin's access to the studio is denying him his right of free speech, waving a placard around and shouting about it is not.

[whiskeryron]

Silly Cow ing

[andy-hughes]

whiskeyron - //Silly Cow ing //

Care to explain please?

[jim360]

Freedom of speech is not the same as freedom from dissenting opinion. I think that Peter Tatchell appreciates that (and Fran Cowling certainly doesn't); protesting the appearance of Nick Griffin was more about protesting his opinions, not his right to express them. The citizen's arrest attempt of Robert Mugabe, meanwhile, was unsuccessful anyway but was motivated by Mugabe's (alleged) actions of oppression of gay people and human rights abuses, not his opinions. It was a bit of a publicity stunt, rather ill-advised, and backfired rather spectacularly, but it certainly wasn't an attempt to suppress Mugabe's freedom of speech.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, I'm not sure you understand the principle of 'principle'.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - //andy-hughes, I'm not sure you understand the principle of 'principle'. //

I think so - I'll get back to when I've had a lie-down!! LOL!

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, thought not.

[jomifl]

Peter Tatchell helped to open the can of worms....

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - //andy-hughes, thought not. //

Whoa!

"I think so ..." which was intended to be tongue-in-cheek, is not the same as '"No" - let's not get into any more misunderstandings on this thread!

[andy-hughes]

jomifl - //Peter Tatchell helped to open the can of worms.... //

I think he has made that his life's work to be honest.

[Ellipsis]

andy-hughes, does Tatchell believe in the principle of free speech or not?

If not, that backs up Lynn_M's point.

If so, why was he protesting against the principle of Griffin being given a platform?

[andy-hughes]

Ellipsis - //If so, why was he protesting against the principle of Griffin being given a platform? //

A valid point.

I believe Mr Tacthell was protesting against Mr Griffin's views, rather than that he was being offered a platform to express them - but without recourse to footage of the protest, that is an opinion, rather than a statement.