What does the future hold for gay men, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people?
There continues to be a steady stream of news stories and cases highlighting the problems that gay men, lesbians and transgender people throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and the world are having in asserting their rights, or achieving equality of opportunity. There are also increasing attempts by our opponents – often religious groups but also political groups – to turn the tide back and reoppress us to a greater or lesser degree.
With the granting of legal protection from discrimination in the provision of goods and services, gay men and lesbians have more or less won all their civil rights. So is the Gay Activist web site still necessary?
My initial thought was that the job was now done, but overnight I realised that the job is, in fact, only just beginning:
- we must make sure the new equality commission really does represent us and work for us.
- we need to re-energise our campaigning and our campaigning organisations.
- we need to ensure that all European citizens who are gay, lesbian and transgender can access and enjoy their civil rights, especially when moving between European states with their partners.
- we must ensure that all gay and lesbian workers are covered by our rights.
- we must help our European colleagues achieve their rights and work for true equality wherever you live in Europe.
- we must educate our friends as to how we won our rights, how easily they can be taken away, and make sure they value them.
- we must ensure resources are provided where needed to make our rights a reality.
- we must use our rights and enjoy them in a responsible, positive and helpful way which does not infringe on the rights of other communities.
- we must fight prejudice and homophobia and keep explaining why these rights are necessary and appropriate.
- we must counter anti-gay propaganda and the right-wing to ensure that our rights are lasting rights.
- we must ensure we as individual people have all the tools and training we need, and all the available information at our fingertips, to make our campaigning effective.
You have to continually be alert and reaffirm your case to retain your hard won rights. From now on its up to all of us.
Text updated 14 November 2009
