Regulars: Column

Caroline Guinness-McGann reflects on the recent loss of a special friend.

Protect your rights

Caroline Guinness-McGann considers reasons to be proud at Pride in the UK…

Gay Pride, these words immediately conjure up a host of memories; visions of bright sunshine, loud colours, happy faces, music, dancing, laughter. A fun day out. A celebration of hard earned human rights. I presume (maybe Gay historians would disagree) this day of celebration is a result of the Political Marches of the 1970s Gay Liberation. It is certainly a day that would have been banned many years ago, but that ban is still within living memory of many of the people celebrating in 2008.

There is not much I find to be proud of here in the UK in 2008. As Christian Fundamentalists try and block IVF, adoption and the right to bring up children within same sex relationships. As they try and force women back into the dark ages by lowering (and ultimately banning) the time limit on abortion. Luckily there were enough sensible politicians who enabled these rights to remain when voted on in parliament recently. I wonder how long it might be before these same fundamentalists propose reversing the legality of civil partnerships between homosexuals, or for that matter, try and reverse the law that homosexuality itself is legal? If, as is often quoted, the UK is a few years behind the USA when it comes to laws around human rights and civil liberties we must not take our rights for granted and must not become complacent while we celebrate this day.

I have come across some who feel that this issue cost the Democrats the White House in 2004 and will go so far as to say that John McCain will be given 10 points in every state that supports gay rights. Scary stuff!”

The very recent decision of the California Supreme Court to overturn a ban on gay marriage was seen as a significant victory in the battle to claim equal rights for gay and lesbian couples. Within hours of the ruling, San Francisco’s city hall was fully booked with appointments for marriage licences and ceremonies for 16th June, when it is expected that the ruling will become effective. Ellen DeGeneres received a standing ovation on the set of her talk show when she announced that she plans to marry her long term partner, Portia de Rossi. Libertarians are hoping that this may be the moment that the US accepts the notion of gay marriage. For once the UK is ahead of the USA as this country seems to have accepted gay marriage as ‘normal’. When The Sun’s headline announcing “Elton takes David up the aisle” albeit a smutty innuendo, it became clear that civil partnerships had gone mainstream without causing any stir in this country. This is something I can feel proud about.

As the USA elections near it seems some Barack Obama supporters are nervous at gay marriage rearing its head as an election-time issue. On the many online discussions it seems there are those who feel that it could cost the election. In fact I have come across some who feel that this issue cost the Democrats the White House in 2004 and will go so far as to say that John McCain will be given 10 points in every state that supports gay rights.

Scary stuff!
It seems ludicrous when we watch hugely popular American TV series which star gay characters. From Will and Grace to Six Feet Under, Brothers and Sisters, Ugly Betty; the list is endless and for those of us watching these programmes in the UK it would seem that being gay in the USA is accepted as normal. They too have Gay Pride days and San Francisco has always been renowned as the ultimate city to visit by gay holidaymakers visiting the USA. It is extraordinary that as I write this now in late May, civil partnerships in SF are illegal. For all that I find myself losing pride in this country of ours at the moment at least this is not one of the causes.

Party on wonderfully at Pride and revel in our hard earned freedoms!
One of my own memories of Gay Pride is that of my daughter, on the way home from Victoria Park having enjoyed a fun filled day, her face painted, her favourite dressing up costume drawing admiring comments, turning to me and saying “Mum, how come the press do not report on the fact that thousands of people gathered together, marched and partied into the night, and there was not one single arrest?” Out of the mouths of babes! PN