Minister of Equalities Jeered at London's Gay Pride
http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/08/Jul/0703.htm7/7/2008
"LONDON, July 7, 2008 – Harriet Harman MP, government minister of
equalities and deputy leader of the Labour Party, was booed and
heckled as she spoke from the main stage at the gay Pride London
celebrations in Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon.
Gay Pride organisers came on stage and appealed to the crowd to stop
jeering and listen to what she had to say.
But their appeal had limited effect as the crowd which packed
Trafalgar Square expressed their anger at the Government's approach to
gay men and women who seek refuge in the UK after feeling from danger.
"At several points during her speech, a bewildered Ms Harman appeared
to waiver and had to struggle to be heard," said gay human rights
campaigner Peter Tatchell, who was at the side of the stage – he was
also one of the speakers.
"Hundreds of people in the crowd expressed their anger at the way the
Labour government is locking up gay asylum seekers, refusing them
refugee status and ordering them to be sent back to violently
homophobic countries like Algeria, Uganda, Iran, Nigeria, Iraq and
Belarus," he said."
