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Gay News: The Crown Prosecution Service will not prosecute homophobic preacher after Peter Tatchell offered to speak in
By: Nigel Robinson
Tatchell defends right to expression
Tatchell defends right to expression
Homophobic street preacher saved by Peter Tatchell.
Street preacher Dale McAlpine was arrested on a street in Workington on 20 April after condemning homosexuality as a sin.
He was charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
In a statement Peter Tatchell said:
"Although I disagree with Dale McAlpine and support protests against his homophobic views, he should not have been arrested and charged. Criminalisation is a step too far.
"Despite my opposition to his opinions, I defend his right to freedom of expression.”
"Despite my opposition to his opinions, I defend his right to freedom of expression.”
Tatchell went on to say that McAlpine should not have been charged in the first place, and that the law had been interpreted in a harsh and authoritarian way.
"Although clearly homophobic, Mr McAlpine did not express his opinion in a way that was aggressive, threatening or intimidating,” he said.
"I am surprised and shocked that the CPS allowed the case to proceed at all. The Public Order Act is meant to protect people from harm. Dale McAlpine's views are misguided and offensive but I see no evidence that they caused harm to anyone. “
"I am surprised and shocked that the CPS allowed the case to proceed at all. The Public Order Act is meant to protect people from harm. Dale McAlpine's views are misguided and offensive but I see no evidence that they caused harm to anyone. “
Tatchell urged the new Home Secretary, Theresa May, to issue new guidelines to the police not to arrest people who express prejudiced view in a non-threatening and non-aggressive manner.
"Freedom of speech means accepting the right of other people to say things that we may find disagreeable and even offensive. Unless people make untrue libellous comments or incite violence, they should not be criminalised for expressing their opinions," he said.
