Equal rights for all, and freedom from incitement to.

[matgb]

In lieu of a proper update, mostly-straight Mat would like to give another reason why he's more and more confident that (re)joining the Lid Dems was a good idea, from, unsurprisingly, alex_wilcock, also known as 'he who wrote the policy'.
Love and Liberty: Jack Straw Is My Darling:

When Paddy Ashdown was cross-examined by Jeremy Paxman for his most aggressive interview of the 1992 Election, gay equality was one of the three ‘ludicrous, extreme and unpopular’ policies on which the sneering Mr Paxman hammered Paddy and on which Paddy stood firm (I’ve forgotten one of them, but the other was green taxes – again, long before anyone else supported them). Just about the only positive press coverage on the issue was in a London-based free gay paper of the time. Capital Gay’s front page after the release of the three parties’ manifestos was one of my defining political memories, and one of the very few times in life when the number of inches really did matter.

It is, typically for Alex, a very long article, giving a potted history of the fight for equal rights and New Labour's fight against such a policy. Worth a read if you've got time. Hell, worth trying to make the time.

Comments

[andrewducker]

Cupcakes: 26
Gay Rights: 0

[matgb]

Yeah, but this wasn't really a post provoking discussion, I asked no question, just rec'd a post.

But, also, everyone has an opinion about cupcakes. And over 50 votes in less than twelve hours—I can use that as evidence to my politics blogger friends ;-)

[andrewducker]

Blogs tend to have much less discussion than journals do. Shame really.

[matgb]

Partially because of the comment notification systems, partially because of threading, partially because you're already logged in, you don't need to do much to actually comment.

And partially because LJ is really a closed, separate section of the 'blogosphere', again partially because of the way friends lists display in profile, etc.

[innerbrat]

Lesbians and cupcakes, I could get behind.

Or in front of.

[matgb]

And we just know you won't let me take the pictures :-(

[innerbrat]

Only if they were in the best of possible taste.

[silentgreeneyes.livejournal.com]

missed this myself
Will try to make time to read it :)

[silentgreeneyes.livejournal.com]

Firstly.. Mat? Next time.. post about cupcakes and link to stuff in the same post. That way, more people might read it :P

Anyway.. read the article..
If I wans't with the lib-dems just for them not being labour or tory.. I'm deffinately against them for this policy, for reasons you know.
I need to get more into this politics thing..

[matgb]

Bbbut...

a) I posted this link a long time before we had the argument

b) I've tried that, people still miss stuff. I wasn't actually bothered about the lack of comments, Jennie slightly misquoted me, it was just an observation when I got Andrew's comment above.

I need to get more into this politics thing..
Yes, yes you do. Everyone does, really, because it matters. 50p a month by direct debit for a student.

[misscoollinda.livejournal.com]

My city is in the midst of a gay rights fight right now. Last election, we passed an equal rights/gay rights ordinance (finally!) despite the efforts of one of the council members. Said council member is now running for Mayor under some Pro-family/anti-gay platform. His opponent is another council member, who is openly gay. Unfortunately, instead of focusing on what the city needs in order to move ahead and prosper, the big issue has been gay/anti-gay.

[matgb]

Aye, on this one, the US is about 20 years behind us. We had that sort of nasty campaign for

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Aye, on this one, the US is about 20 years behind us. We had that sort of nasty campaign for <a rel="nofollow" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermondsey_by-election%2C_1983" title="">Bermondsey in '83</a>, now it's not an issue, my old MP in Exeter got a civil partnership last year (he's a junior govt minister), the radio did a vox-pop, the reaction was "so?"

It'll get better, but in some respects the catharsis is needed, the old guard are trying to retrench, but they're losing, mostly.

[misscoollinda.livejournal.com]

Ferndale is known for it's gay community, so I don't know why anyone here still tries to make trouble. Our previous Mayor was proud to perform civil unions during the annual pride-fest. I think this new guy running for the office needs to accept the fact that Ferndale is and always has been gay-friendly and if he doesn't like it, he needs to get the hell out. I'm looking forward to the day when it's not even an issue anymore.

Fight Those Who Kill Gays!

[(Anonymous)]

.
Support GLBT Rights! Fight those that stone gays to death! Democracy NOT Theocracy!

STOP KUFFARPHOBIA Demo in London, Friday 10/26/07!

I think we all must start calling the Islamofascists 'racists'. We should scream that they are hateful towards the Christian race, and the Jewish race, and the Hindu race, and the Atheist Race, that they are Christianityphobiasts. They will scream that Christianity is not a race, and we'll say:

"See, Islam is NOT a race either.
And by the way, the Bible doesn't say to convert, conquer or kill non-Christians; like the Koran says to do to non-Muslims. So there YOU RACIST hater of non-Muslims! You're a Kuffarphobic!"

Be careful all you in London Friday 10/26!

absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
don't call a spade a spade

Islamist terrorism
not related to Islam


absurd thought -
God of the Universe wants
many Taliban planets

stonings and beheadings
billions killed daily


absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
be very afraid...

of saying the wrong things
TRUTH is especially BAD


http://absurdthoughtsaboutgod.blogspot.com

:)
.