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GALHA 30th Anniversary
12 Jul 2009
Over 120 people crowded into London's Bishopsgate Institute on the
evening of 10th July to celebrate the 30th birthday of the Gay and
Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA).
PETER TATCHELL
praised GALHA as "a voice of reason and evidence-based thought" in the
face of bigotry and fundamentalism, and warned that "Religious
fundamentalism is now the single biggest threat to women's rights and
LGBT rights around the world".
He urged the community to try to recapture some of the energy and idealism of the Gay Liberation Front, (GLF) which was inspired both by the Stonewall Riots and by the early law reformers.
"Collectively and cumulatively, we have moved mountains thanks to these efforts."
"The GLF never argued for mere "equality". Our agenda was about changing society, for the benefits of gays and straights alike."
"We challenged traditional notions of masculinity and femininity, and of the patriarchal nuclear family."
Stressing that direct action could achieve results alongside
traditional lobbying, Tatchell also highlighted the importance of
solidarity: "Gays and Lesbians should support all oppressed
communities, even when they don't always return the favour."
MICHAEL CASHMAN
asked the question "Why are we still fighting for gay and lesbian
rights in 2009, and why will we still be doing it in 2029? It is
because hatred never goes away. It merely shifts its focus."
Cashman also warned that "Gays and lesbians too often think that rights
once won, can never be taken away." He pointed to the struggle that was
going on to secure human rights across Europe, and the key role of the
European Parliament, for example in requiring all EU members to respect
rights for minorities including LGBT people.
He pointed out that, often as not, this opposition was religiously
motivated. He insisted that "Unless we can separate religion and
politics, we will never advance." He also left the audience with the
thought that "Religion and faith are perhaps the most private
experience that any of us can ever have, apart from an orgasm that is."
The event also saw the presentation of the first CHE/DEREK OYSTON AWARD
IN CONJUNCTION WITH GALHA for services to the gay community, sponsored
by the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) in memory of Derek
Oyston. Journalist and CHE Vice President RAY GOSLING presented the
award to SUE SANDERS "in recognition of her outstanding work for 'School's Out' and for establishing and maintaining 'LGBT History Month'".
Sanders spoke of the enormous strides that had been made since the days
when teachers could be sacked simply for being gay and commented. "I
can't tell you how much it means to receive an award like this from the
community". She also paid tribute to the work of the late Paul Patrick
and to other members of the organisation.
GALHA Events Secretary DEREK LENNARD paid tribute to the group's
founders, including GEORGE BROADHEAD, ROY SAICH and JIM HERRICK, and
also praised the contribution of TERRY SANDERSON who was furthermore
the world's longest standing gay columnist.
GALHA provides a voice for the many non religious in the LGBT community
in the United Kingdom and elsewhere and promotes a rational approach to
LGBT Rights as human rights. For its 30th Anniversary in 2009 GALHA is
holding a series of special public meetings and events including an
exhibition of its work in Central London .
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