Campaigners are staging a demonstration outside Rochester Cathedral today against the Bishop of Rochester’s stance on gay rights.
The protest has been planned to coincide with International Day Against Homophobia (Idaho) and will see members of the county’s gay community gather at the cathedral from noon.
Ray Duff, one of the organisers, said: “Dr Michael Nazir-Ali has regularly opposed gay rights measures; for example, adoption by gay and lesbian partnerships.
“He has himself received threats because of his conversion from Islam to Christianity. Lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) people fully condemn such threats unreservedly.
“Thus, we, the LGBT community in Kent and the UK, will urge the bishop to now extend his support and sympathy to the LGBT community, who have suffered for centuries because of Church homophobia.”
In a statement, the Bishop of Rochester said: “I acknowledge and respect the equal dignity of all - regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation, there is no place for the harassment or persecution of anyone for whatever reason.
“We are thankful that in this country there is freedom of meeting and expression for all.
“The Bible and the Church teach that the proper expression of our sexuality is in the context of marriage. This has to do with God’s purposes in creating us, respect for persons and the importance of the family as a basic unity of society.”
Kent Police marked Idaho with a new appeal to gay people to report homophobic and transphobic crimes using a free 24-hour phone line.
Assistant Chief Constable Dave Ainsworth said: “Hate crime is unacceptable and we are working with partner organisations to ensure the community understands this behaviour is not tolerated and Kent Police will investigate each reported incident thoroughly.
“We urge the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community to use it so we can work together to ensure offenders are prosecuted. We believe hate crime is under-reported.”
Reported incidents of hate crime Kent have dropped by more than six per cent between April last year and March this year, compared to the same period the previous years, according to police.
A seminar is being held at Kent Police College in Maidstone today with speakers including Ben Summerskill, commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission and chief executive of Stonewall, which lobbies for gay rights.
Mr Duff, who is from Folkestone, said Kent Police’s response to hate crime had improved over the past 10 years.
He reported a homophobic assault to the police in 2000, which resulted in arrests and charges being brought.
However, he did say that some gay people still felt police were “totally against them”.
He said more work was needed to tackle homophobia in the wider community and anti-gay statements from sections of religious and political groups.
Cllr Kevin Lynes, Kent County Council’s cabinet member for equality and diversity, said: “It’s important that everyone in Kent feels safe and respected.
“In today’s modern and diverse society, international awareness events such as Idaho help to highlight the support available for anyone experiencing hate crime or abuse, and encourages us all to work together to stop hate crime.”
Cllr Rehman Chishti, Medway Council's portfolio holder for community safety and enforcement, added: “We want everyone that lives, works and socialises in Medway to feel safe and respected, regardless of their sexuality, gender, race or age.”
Idaho is an annual event that allows people to campaign for improvements for the quality of life for LGBT people around the world.
There are 77 countries where it is a criminal offence to be gay and in seven countries the punishment is death, said Idaho campaigners.
Mr Duff said that he hoped the Bishop of Rochester would attend this year’s Lambeth Conference after pulling out because an openly gay bishop from the US, Gene Robinson, was attending.
The Kent Homophobic and Transphobic Reporting Line is on 0800 328 9162. For more information visit www.kent.police.uk/hatecrime.
POSTED: 17/05/2008 09:00:00
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