Cashman and Tatchell Lead Gay Humanist 30th Birthday Celebrations but warn: “Gay people too often think that rights, once won, can never be taken away.”

10th July 2009
Over 120 people crowded into London’s  Bishopsgate Institute on the evening of 10^th July to celebrate the 30^th 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, 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 for services to the gay community, sponsored by the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) in memory of Derek Oyston. Veteran journalist and CHE Vice President RAY GOSLING presented the award to SUE SANDERS for her key role in the 35 years of “”School’s Out”. 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, secretary for 25 years, GEORGE SAITCH, JIM HERRICK, and TERRY SANDERSON who was also the world’s longest standing gay columnist.

Messages of support were read from the British Humanist Association, the National Secular Society, The South Place Ethical Society, and the Council of Ex Muslims.

STEFAN DICKERS of the Bishopsgate Institute, expressed the Institute’s delight at receiving the  GALHA archives, and how they would contribute to the institute’s ongoing work.

ADAM KNOWLES, as GALHA’s youngest committee member, saw much hope in the younger generation, too often dismissed as disconnected, or even apathetic.

“Democratic, rational, questioning and fundamentally optimistic, in many ways they are already humanists in all but name. Our job is to go out and recruit them.”

GALHA Secretary David Christmas commented:

“This wonderful event highlights what we have already achieved but also that there are so many more battles to be fought and won all over the world. This in turn shows why there is still likely to be a need for organisations like GALHA in another thirty years time.”