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'So far, he has not promised a single new policy for gay equality'
David Cameron
Tatchell says Cameron 'is all talk and no action' on gay rights
OutRage!'s Peter Tatchell was at the Conservative party conference when it opened in Manchester today to challenge David Cameron to prove his commitment to gay rights.
"David Cameron is all talk and no action on gay rights," he said. "I challenge him to back up his gay-friendly words with concrete policies to end the remaining vestiges of homophobic discrimination. So far, he has not promised a single new policy for gay equality."
Since becoming leader, Cameron has made efforts to make the Tories more attractive to the LGBT community after the self-confessed "nasty party" period of the 80s and 90s. In February, he claimed that his support for civil partnerships was proof of its commitment to gay rights, and in July apologised for its introduction of Section 28, the notorious legislation which banned the "promotion" of homosexuality in schools.
But Tatchell said today: "The conservatives will never be taken seriously as defenders of gay human rights unless they promise concrete policies for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.
"Mr Cameron has a poor voting record on gay issues. Only last year he voted to deny lesbian couples equal access to IVF fertility treatment. In 2003, he voted to retain Section 28."
Tatchell challenged Cameron to make clear his position on issues including the ban on gay marriage, the teaching of sex education in faith schools, the issuing of visas and work permits to entertainers who incite the murder of LGBT people, the deportation of genuine LGBT asylum seekers to countries where they are likely to face persecution, the ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood, the omissions in the Equality Bill regarding LGBT people and the prosecution of record stores and radio stations that promote songs encouraging violence against LGBT people.
He also asked whether a Conservative government would "Withdraw from the European Parliament alliance with the homophobic Polish Law and Justice Party, Dutch Christian Union and Latvian Fatherland and Freedom Party."
"We don't know what a Tory government would do because David Cameron offers only vague generalities, not policy specifics," said Tatchell. "Until he assures us that these discriminations will be ended by a Conservative government, Mr Cameron will not deserve the support of the lesbian and gay community."
