Press Release from Queers Against the Cuts on Cameron's Hypocrisy

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release 24 June 2011

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Gay Anti-Cuts Campaigners Slam Cameron’s “Hypocrisy”

London based LGBTQ anti cuts group, Queers Against The Cuts (QUAC) has panned the Prime minister speech given at the Downing Street reception for the LGBT community last Wednesday.

“David Cameron speech was incredibly complacent “said Richard Farnos, Joint Convenor of QUAC “There was no acknowledgement that LGBTQ people are going to be among the hardest hit by this government’s foolish austerity programme. Cameron seems to think that LGBTQ people live off thin air.”

According to QUAC not only do LGBTQ people work disproportionately in the public and voluntary sectors that are being cut, but as a community LGBTQ people are more dependent on public services: “Most of us don’t have kids to help out when we are older, and still our youth are more likely to be abandoned by their families.” Richard Farnos explained.

LGBTQ people are also being hit by benefit cuts “many HIV positive gay men are losing out with the introduction of Employment Support Allowance which seems to be unable to cope with fluctuating conditions.”

“To add insult to injury it is pure hypocrisy that Cameron claims to be tackling homophobic bullying in schools. The Government’s own educational reform plans, particularly the creation of so called “free schools” will allow the re-introduction of section 28 through the backdoor.”

“Free School” will be new schools set up by parents, churches or charities that will receive state funding while not have to follow the national curriculum, and with few restrictions on what the schools can or cannot teach.

Already Toby Young one of the leading advocates of “free schools” has dismissed the whole idea of LGBT History month saying "The very idea that a group of 12-year-old schoolchildren would be dragooned into ‘creating banners and other materials’ to promote LGBT week is preposterous".

“At QUAC” Richard Farnos concluded “we don’t think that the poorest and most vulnerable people in our communities should pay for the greed inspired errors of bankers. And as Ireland and Greece show cutting will only make things worse. If corporations and the super rich were made to pay the tax they legally avoid we could tackle the debt and invest in all our futures.”

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Queers Against the Cuts (QUAC) was formed in January 2011 and is a diverse group of LGBTQ people who have come together to oppose the savage cuts to public services, job losses and the welfare state being pushed by the ConDem coalition government.

We aim:

• To campaign and defend all jobs, services and benefit rights and oppose privatisation.

• To highlight the disproportionate and adverse impact of the huge reduction of public spending has on LGBTQ communities.

• To mobilise the LGBTQ communities against the cuts.

• To promote discussion of alternatives to the cuts and reconstruction of a more LGBT friendly public service

• To work in partnership and build alliances with others fighting the cuts.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Ring: Richard Farnos on 07951 755 785

Email: queersagainstthecuts@gmail.com

Website: queersagainstthecuts.wordpress.com.