The Socialist

The Socialist 22 June 2006

NHS: We're fighting back


NHS cuts... closures... privatisation... We're fighting back!

Fight the cuts in community services


Fight Low Pay

Socialist Students receive standing ovation


US 'empire' in crisis


Community protests at trigger-happy policing

Arise...Sir tax-avoider!

Labour defeated over schools and pool...

Battle of the Thatcherites!

Football: A high price for the beautiful game


1926 General Strike: workers taste power

Secuestro Express


Putting the politics into Pride


Socialists oppose the war in Sri Lanka

Soweto uprising 1976: The powder keg ignites


Brown attacks public sector workers

Anger at inept handling of pensions dispute

 
 
Socialist Party logo Socialist Party on the climate change demo December 2007, pic Paul Mattsson Socialist Party News
Socialist Party Policy statements
Socialist Party contemporary Marxist analysis

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Europride 2006 - 1 July

Putting the politics into Pride

The Lesbian and Gay rights movement started in 1969 with the Stonewall riots in New York when drag queens physically fought the police who were raiding gay bars.

Greg Randall, Hackney

Prejudice against LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) people has not gone away, even though in parts of the world many legal rights have been won and anti-discrimination laws enacted. Similar laws did not end racism or sex discrimination. "Queer bashing" still takes place on the allegedly tolerant streets of London. The fear of losing your job for "coming out" at work is part of life for many.

Unfortunately, the organisers of Gay Pride events seem to take the view that everything is rosy and that it is not necessary to struggle to protect and extend gay rights. In the last decade, the national Pride event in London has become increasingly depoliticised and commercialised.

This year London hosts EuroPride and British Airways have signed up as sponsor. This union-busting company boasts that it has "gay" business worth £3 billion. Great for its bank balance, but BA won't be so fine for gay workers threatened with the sack or the loss of union rights as it moves to Heathrow terminal five.

The Socialist Party LGBT caucus is determined to put some politics back into Pride. This 1 July we aim to have our largest presence at Pride for a decade. We will be protesting against its commercialisation and calling for community and trade union campaigns for LGBT rights.

The Committee for a Workers' International (CWI) will provide translations of our leaflets into European languages. We will protest against state, church and fascist attacks on Pride marches in Poland and Russia with members of the Socialist Party's sister organisations in the CWI. International solidarity, not adverts for BA and its profiteering ilk, is needed to extend LGBT rights across the globe.

Socialist Party branches should also make sure they raise this message at the local Pride marches across the country. International Socialist Resistance members will also be at EuroPride to campaign against homophobic bullying in schools.

Capitalists use reactionary ideas to divide the working class and protect their profit system. Only by getting rid of capitalism and building a socialist society can we ultimately guarantee our rights.

  • Telephone 020 8988 8777 for more details of the Socialist Party LGBT caucus and plans for raising the banner of Socialism at EuroPride in central London on Saturday 1 July.

 


In this issue


Socialist Party NHS campaign

NHS cuts... closures... privatisation... We're fighting back!

Fight the cuts in community services


Socialist Party youth and students

Fight Low Pay

Socialist Students receive standing ovation


Socialist Party feature

US 'empire' in crisis


Socialist Party campaigns

Community protests at trigger-happy policing

Arise...Sir tax-avoider!

Labour defeated over schools and pool...

Battle of the Thatcherites!

Football: A high price for the beautiful game


Socialist Party review

1926 General Strike: workers taste power

Secuestro Express


Socialist Party LGBT

Putting the politics into Pride


International socialist news and analysis

Socialists oppose the war in Sri Lanka

Soweto uprising 1976: The powder keg ignites


Socialist Party workplace news

Brown attacks public sector workers

Anger at inept handling of pensions dispute


 

Home   |   The Socialist 22 June 2006   |   Join the Socialist Party

Subscribe   |   Donate   |   Bookshop

Related links:

Pride:

triangleReports: Pride gets political

trianglePride London

triangleTrade unionists must fight for LGBT rights

trianglePride 2003: Fight The Bigots And Bullies

trianglePride Or Profit?

triangleCampaigning at Leeds Pride

Hackney:

triangleLondon, Hackney TUSC election rally

triangleHackney Socialist Party: Report from Socialist Party national women's meeting

triangleHackney Socialist Party: What next after 30th November?

triangleHackney Alliance to Defend Public Services: Preparing for 30th November

Gay:

triangleThe Queen's Speech - What readers thought

triangleTory MPs and church attack gay marriage

triangleFight homophobic Tory attacks

Socialist:

triangleBristol Central Socialist Party: Art and Politics

triangleBristol Central Socialist Party: The role of the monarchy in capitalist society

triangleMore attacks on right to campaign

Lgbt:

triangleBristol East Socialist Party: LGBT liberation today

triangleSocialist Party LGBT group national meeting

triangleLeeds City Socialist Party: LGBT history month, Micheal Johnson