Thursday, January 11, 2007

Questions for Peter Tatchell

At 9pm this evening on 18 Doughty Street I will be interviewing Peter Tatchell. Any questions you want me to ask him? The comments section awaits...

53 comments:

Anonymous said...

I understand his current party is the Green Party.

I would ask him if he thinks they have much of a future, since green issues are no longer marginal, and the main parties are fighting to go green.

UKIP are realising a single issue doesn't sell. The Greens still feel like a pressure group.

Anonymous said...

Do you still believe that Russell Square in central London should be an "official cruising ground" for gay men, as you said in The Pink Paper in 2001?

Anonymous said...

victory is sweet

we won, you lost, nuff said

you could ask Tatchell if he felt comfortable sharing a flatform with crypto-facists the Freeedom Assosociation at last year's March For Free Expression

Wrinkled Weasel said...

In writing after the passing of the 1967 sexual offences bill, one of its proposers, Lord Arran, wrote,

"I ask those [homosexuals] to show their thanks by comporting themselves quietly and with dignity… any form of ostentatious behaviour now or in the future or any form of public flaunting would be utterly distasteful…"

Did Peter Tatchell miss this piece of advice?

Secondly:
Is it not the case that political correctness, including so called gay rights is not a struggle for equality at all but merely the battle for top position in a pyramid of conflicting and equally valid issues?

Why for example, isn't Christian or Muslim belief deemed to be just as valid, including its conflict with homosexuality, and that those who hold those views have their own rights, including discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation if it is an issue of faith?

Thirdly, without Peter Tatchell, the debate would have been somewhat impoverished. He is to be applauded for his tireless adherence to a cause, however much I or others disagree with him. - He should get a medal for trying to arrest Mugabe.

Anonymous said...

Can I suggest you ask Peter who has I think campaigned for Lib Demmery at times since his Labour days about the lead story here about Danny Alexander MP.

Stonewall were also behind the survey of gay friendly employers which placed Labour Manchester and GLA best among local authorities (3rd overall) and Labour Brighton and Hove third (8th overall). You could ask him about that too.

I would also love to hear about the Bermondsey/Rotherhithe campaign: including "Which queen are you voting for?" OWTTE leaflets when both his opponent Simon Hughes and the man responsible for this line were themselves gay. Peter has it seems forgiven Simon but I'm not sure that was the best choice myself.

Finally, the tales of Lib Dem diversity chaos and back-sliding could also make a good talking point.

Anonymous said...

Does he believe that the gov't has made the case for 90 days detention for terrorist suspects? And if so, how?

Does he regret that fact that he is not Father of the House?

Why has he never held ministerial office?

Anonymous said...

1. Does Peter still think it OK to "out" celebrities (and others) who are gay, but choose to keep their sexuality private?
2. Doesn't he think that some of his "outrage" actions in the past have been a gross violation of an individuals privacy?
3. Will he consider going on Celebrity Big Brother?
4. Peter is a well known opponent of the Iraq war - does he support Pres Bush's actions to re-inforce his troops? If not (highly likely) what strategy does he suggest that doesn't hand Iraq over to a cabal of Islamist terrorists, gay-haters and murderers and medieval torturers?

Anonymous said...

what next for Gay rights campaigning?

Surely most of the key objectives are he worked so hard for are obtained?

At what point do you stop campaigning; or are their always going to be new infringements to be searched for?

Anonymous said...

Oh please ask him about Simon Hughes and his alleged new partner and the whole Lib Dem Problem you are aware of .


How did he feel about the liar running as the straight candidate in the famously bitter Bermondsey By election and what does he think of him now


Go on Iain stir it up a bit . Lets lower the level of debate ...

Anonymous said...

Will some form of accommodation have to be reached on human rights and gay rights with the three Abrahamic religions, given that imposing views on them is going to be impossible ?

If not, how will refusal of requests for 'Shariah' law or 'Conscience clauses' be managed in an increasingly multicultural society ?

How can 'freedom of expression' be guaranteed in a society where the secular views of many are in conflict with the religious views of significant minority faith groups?

Anonymous said...

Should the UK move down the American road, and have a separation between Church and State ?

Should Prince Charles become 'Fidei Defensor' [Defender of THE Faith] or a Defender of [all] Faith ?

Anonymous said...

Why would anyone want to ask this awful man anything? He manages to bring disharmony wherever he goes.

Anonymous said...

If he was offered a 'deal' by the pharmaceutical industry whereby they would limit 'animal testing' to the rodents, and stop experimenting on primates, would he take it ?

Or would he allow the 'perfect to be the enemy of the possible' ?

Anonymous said...

Oh the new compulsory gayness legislation obviosly

Anonymous said...

Ask him if the ONS has bent over like a school boy in the head masters office by accepting Gordon Brown's third-world-goods inflation model.

Gordon Brown - more a statistical mirage than an economic miracle.

Anonymous said...

Not for publication

I have now blogged the Blunkett Cash story here.

Anonymous said...

On the Iraq/sharia question above: Whatever happens next our invasion of Iraq will have itself contributed to rather than contained this pickle.

Anonymous said...

In this post-empire world, does the British Commonwealth still have a role in 'global governance' ? If so, what should that role be, and how should it be enforced ?

David Lindsay said...

Does he still believe in lowering the age of consent de jure to 14; or even de facto to nine (as advocated in a letter to the Guardian about 10 years ago)? If so, why? If not, why not (because, in his case, it matters)?

Anonymous said...

Does he think Australia might have a better quality of life and that sensible people would return there ?

Anonymous said...

I want to know how you gay blokes manage to keep looking so youthful.
Cant just be plenty of moisturiser, I tried that for a week and my face ended up looking like the crust on an uncooked Frey Bentos Pie.

Anonymous said...

Can you ask him what he thinks about the EU. Just for a laugh, no other person in public life appears to want to talk about it so any comments greatly appreciated.

Anonymous said...

Much the most interesting and useful thing Tatchell ever did was attempt to perform a citizens' arrest on that evil monster Robert Mugabe during a visit to the UK a few years' back.

I would be tempted to ask him whether he now wishes that instead of beating about the bush and arresting him, he'd simply assassinated the bugger.

Anonymous said...

Pedant
"this awful man" may be slightly obsessive and bonkers but he has heart, dont forget he tried to arrest Mugabe and got a kicking for his trouble.
All he asks is for gay people to be treated in the same way as heterosexuals, he looses me when he says that gays need to be able to fuck in public parks as it is part of their culture, Bullshit!
Anybody who does that should be done for public indecency gay or straight.

Wrinkled Weasel said...

How many comments/questions have you not published because they were just plainly offensive?

Anonymous said...

So, whos has the anonymous at 1.59 confused Tatchell with? Peter Tapsell?

Anonymous said...

Do you think Simon Hughes would make for a bettere Lib Dem leader than Sir Ming?

Anonymous said...

Does he now regard gay rights as being safe in the hands of the Tory leadership, with abuses such as Section 28 being a thing of the past, and therefore accept that being gay and voting Conservative are no longer at odds with one another?

Anonymous said...

"When did you first feel confident you knew Simon hughes' true orientation?"

Anonymous said...

Is Mr. Tatchell as much oppoosed to the gay rights movement forcable imposing their morality on Christians, Jews and Muslims through political correctness as much he is as opposed to members of those three faiths imposing their dogma on homosexuals?

If not, then he is a hypocrite!

Anonymous said...

Politics is often said to be the art of compromise. Is that why you have never been elected as an MP?

Anonymous said...

What do you believe the age of consent should be?*

* Last time he was asked I seem to remember the answer was "14"

Anonymous said...

c4 - It would help Iain a lot if your question were posed in English..

Anonymous said...

Message :

I have blogged Hazel now here.

Anonymous said...

Do you believe that meat is murder?

Anonymous said...

Has he actually read the Green's Manifesto for a Sustainable Society? Does he not think it excessively radical?

Anonymous said...

Peter Hitchens. You are condemmed by your own words. He does not just ask for gay people to be treated equally. As you, yourself, say, he is always making an issue of how gay people should be allowed to express their sexuality, even if it means causing offence to other, reasonable people including, apparantly, you. That is what I find awful.

Anonymous said...

You could ask him if he had been elected as MP for Bermondsey instead of Simon Hughes, how he could have served the interests of the people of Bermondsey better than Hughes. (As opposed to serving the interests of various pressure groups)

Dr.Doom said...

Peter, has the New Labour project lived up to your expectations?

As a Democrat, which part of his equal opportunities for all has he let you down with?

Do you agree to replace Trident?
Go on, be a devil and say yes.

ps. Peter, Tony has given you more than anyone else alive.

Doom.

Dr.Doom said...

By the way Iain, how about asking Peter to answer for himself in here.

Doom.

Anonymous said...

His 13 times table. That should catch him out.

Anonymous said...

1) You appeared on Peter Hitchens' programme 'Stealing your Liberty' and defended a couple who had been interviewed by police about publishing a negative pamphlet about gay folks.

Did you feel that a principles (i.e. liberty, freedom of expression) interfered with your politics (gays being free from oppression).

And how would you change Labour's PC laws?

Anonymous said...

He has openly criticised the Catholic church for their views on contraception, in particular the third world. I have been led to believe that many men refuse to wear condoms which whatever your religious beliefs is the real culprit of the continued problems. The problem is one of promiscuity in an area where aids is rife, it tends to be on the part of one partner usually the man and that women already suffer terrible injustices in some countries as 2nd class citizens where the Catholic church's doctrine is not followed closely.
Should we not be focussing on the way that women are perceived and treated in the third world, rather than criticising long held beliefs from a religion which aims to protect women and treats them with respect as equals.
And does he accept also that many from the Catholic church work tirelessly to help and aid the people in that region.

Anonymous said...

What are you optimistic about, and why

HT: The Edge

Anonymous said...

Pedant
He is a Human being and like the rest of us full of contradictions.
To me he appears to be a decent man who thinks that people should be able to do what they like as long as it doesnt cause harm to others and unlike most of us is prepared to stand up and do something about it.
Im not a Gay man , I just admire his balls (+:
Seriously, we , need more Peter Tatchells men/women of conviction .

Anonymous said...

Wrinkled Weasel, you really are a tool.

"Show our thanks"?!! Are we the Bob Cratchits of British society- still!

You make me laugh with your supposed worry over the "rights" of islamists and little-minded "christians" to discriminate. If they are really so concerned, don't open a business serving the public- simple as that.

I never thought I'd say it, but thank feck for Europe- the only thing pulling this country, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century.

My question for Peter:-

The mid to late 90s was the high water mark for lesbian and gay rights- (why Iain, like me, likes "this life" so much as it captured that time) many of us thought the war was over.

How do you propose to engage and politicise (pass the torch) to the new generation?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 2:28 - "Multicultural society" has gone the way of the dodo. Muslims are going to have to fit in to the society which allowed them in the door, or go somewhere they feel more comfortable.

Like others, I admire Peter Tatchell for his bravery in trying to arrest the Mugabe creature. He knew he would be severely beaten up, but he steeled himself and did it anyway. I like some of what he stands for,but not everything. But the man certainly does not lack for courage.

Anonymous said...

Iain, you know I have a feeling Peter Tatchell might well be gay. Do you want to ask him about that?
Is he ever going to come out?

Anonymous said...

"Remembering your brave attempt to arrest Robert Mugabe, what do you think is going to happen in Zimbabwe, over the next year or so?"

Wrinkled Weasel said...

Oh dear Kris.

I did write a long reply to your diatribe but frankly I can't be bothered.

You are so up yourself that it would go right over your head, and besides, your modus operandi is tyranny and bullying, and not debate.

Anonymous said...

Does he think that iligal Australian immigrants should be depoted.

Anonymous said...

Cant watch it since you started 'improving '18 Doughty St.

Why are you trying to improve something that worked fine all sounds very new labour to me.

Anonymous said...

Tyranny and bullying? You mean the bit where I'd questioned what you've written?

Tyranny and bullying are little labels that you've used so that you don't bother with a second diatribe.

Face it, you've got no substance to support your argument- so you've resorted to personal attack. So who'se the bully?