Following the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report, the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has written to Home Secretary Jack Straw asking him to include sexual orientation when framing new policies and legislation in respect of race.
GALHA, which has played a part in lesbian and gay rights campaigning since its founding 20 years ago, has told the Home Secretary that it believes that most of the findings of the Lawrence report “apply mutatis mutandis to lesbian and gay people”.
GALHA points out that in some cases physical attacks against (and even murders of) gay people have not been taken seriously by the police because of the sexuality of the victims. The police have also shown a reluctance to accept that such crimes are (or may be) homophobically motivated, and to classify them as such.
Mr Straw is reminded that there is no equivalent of the Race Relations Act for lesbian and gay people and that the addition of lesbians and gays to hate crimes legislation was rejected.
GALHA adds that in some respects lesbian and gay people have additional problems to black people. They are often afraid to come out to their families without whose support (particularly when young) life is much harder – as reflected in the suicide statistics.
GALHA’s letter to Mr Straw concludes by saying that the omissions to hate and discrimination legislation, and police practices, must be remedied quickly if a repetition of the Lawrence case is to be avoided.
The full text of the GALHA letter follows.
Dear Mr Straw,
I am writing on behalf of our members and supporters to congratulate you on the action you have proposed as a result of the Lawrence inquiry report.
We believe that most of the findings of the Lawrence report apply mutatis mutandis to lesbian and gay people. For example, we have felt in some cases that physical attacks against (and even murders of) gay people have not been taken seriously by the police because of the sexuality of the victims. On occasions the police have been more interested in investigating whether those attacked have broken the law than finding and convicting the attackers. With attacks of gay people there is also a reluctance to accept that they are (or may be) homophobically motivated, and to classify them as such. I am sure that you will recognise the parallels.
In some respects lesbian and gay people have additional problems to black people. They are often in fear of coming out to their families without whose support (particularly when young) life is much harder – as reflected in the suicide statistics. Furthermore, the law is less supportive; indeed it is not supportive at all. I understand that you rejected the addition of gay people to the hate crimes legislation. There is no equivalent of the Race Relations Act, and the Sexual Orientation Bill was granted insufficient parliamentary time. Also, discrimination is still permitted in the Armed Forces institutionally. The publishing of the names and addresses of those convicted of consensual sexual offences has led to suicides.
We also have grave concerns about police conduct and practice in respect of gay and lesbian people. Officers have, without justification, disclosed information on sexuality to suspects’ – even victims’ – employers or families. One example is when the licence holders of cars near a legitimate gay meeting place were contacted by police in respect of a crime that occurred after the numbers were taken. It was doubly unfortunate because it was often sons and daughters who were at the meeting who had not come out to their parents.
In the sad case of Ron Davies, it was reported that his car had been spotted several times by police in gay cruising spots near the M4. Assuming that these reports are accurate, who had the authority to release such information and, more importantly, why were police taking car numbers – presumably en masse? Why was totally inappropriate information released (and published in the press) by unnamed Welsh police officers about Mr Davies’ legal activities in Wales well after the Clapham Common incident?
When framing new policies and legislation in respect of race, we urge you to consider and include, wherever possible, sexual orientation. The omissions to hate and discrimination legislation and police practices must be remedied quickly if a repetition of the Lawrence case is to be avoided.
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely,
George Broadhead