As I blogged on Friday I went along to the 30th anniversary celebrations for GALHA and the 40th anniversary event for CHE. My Green Party colleague, Peter Tatchell, gave a speech as did the Labour MEP, Michael Cashman. I was pleased to meet an old friend, Sean Mc Gouran, now in Respect, with whom I worked on the Northern Irish LGBT magazine 'Gay Star' in Belfast in the early 80s. He now lives in London and is involved in a number of political activities. It also appears that we know a few people in common. The archives of GALHA have now been accepted by the Bishopsgate Institute near Liverpool St station and are in good hands. Apparently they have some very interesting archives there, which I must get around to having a look at some time. I still have not visited the Hall-Carpenter Archives, which are the most important and extensive LGBT archives in the UK, if not in Europe. A picture of the Institute and Library above.
Below is an account of the event posted by GALHA.
GALHA NEWS RELEASE-FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION.
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."
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, 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.
Messages of congratulation and support were read out from the British Humanist Association, the National Secular Society, The South Place Ethical Society, the Council of Ex Muslims, and from GALHA Vice President Dr Evan Harris MP.
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. An exhibition on GALHA's history, which Stefan had helped to compile, was a major feature of the evening. The GALHA archive can be viewed at the Institute, along with many others.
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 Vice President BARBARA SMOKER also spoke, expressing her admiration for GALHA's work and her delight at its continuing success.
The evening concluded with the ceremonial cutting of GALHA's birthday cake, and with a wine and canapé reception.
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."
END
NOTE TO EDITORS:
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 .
http://www.galha.org/ <http://www.galha.%20org/> 0792 1188329.
A DVD of the event is being prepared. Please contact info@galha.org if you are interested
Photos are also available from the GALHA Press Office: galhacommunications@live.com
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."
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, 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.
Messages of congratulation and support were read out from the British Humanist Association, the National Secular Society, The South Place Ethical Society, the Council of Ex Muslims, and from GALHA Vice President Dr Evan Harris MP.
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. An exhibition on GALHA's history, which Stefan had helped to compile, was a major feature of the evening. The GALHA archive can be viewed at the Institute, along with many others.
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 Vice President BARBARA SMOKER also spoke, expressing her admiration for GALHA's work and her delight at its continuing success.
The evening concluded with the ceremonial cutting of GALHA's birthday cake, and with a wine and canapé reception.
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."
END
NOTE TO EDITORS:
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 .
http://www.galha.org/ <http://www.galha.%20org/> 0792 1188329.
A DVD of the event is being prepared. Please contact info@galha.org if you are interested
Photos are also available from the GALHA Press Office: galhacommunications@live.com
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