Politics

Academies likely to create less tolerant society, says Ryan Cleminson from the South West Green Party LGBT.

In the Houses of Parliament, Education Secretary Michael Gove recently laid out the plans for the Academies Bill, saying that anyone can bid to run academies and free schools. The South west Green Party spokesperson on LGBT rights Ryan Cleminson said this of the proposals, "The worrying thing about these proposals of free schools and academies is that they are likely to create a less tolerant society and not a fairer society, we all know that many of these academies and free schools are likely to be run by religious organisations which signals that religious dogma about homosexuality being a sin will be taught."

Read more: Academy Schools Less Tolerant?

Iain Stewart, Conservative MP for Milton Keynes South, has called on Foreign Secretary William Hague MP to ask the Iranian authorities to halt the execution of Ebrahim Hamidi.

Last weekend’s Observer reported that the 18 year old was sentenced to death for lavat, or sodomy, on the basis of "judge's knowledge", a legal loophole that allows for subjective judicial rulings where there is no conclusive evidence. Hamidi allegedly confessed to the crime under torture. Last month, the purported victim of the crime admitted he had been coerced into making false accusations by his parents.

Read more: Conservative MP Calls on William Hague in Gay Iranian Death Sentence

According to Irish Senator David Norris, Ireland, north and south, is “nearly there” in terms of achieving equality for gay people.

Senator Norris, a prominent human rights campaigner in the Republic of Ireland, who was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in Ireland, was speaking ahead of the Amnesty International Belfast Pride lecture on Monday evening. Norris has recently indicated his intention to stand for the Irish Presidency.

Senator Norris said: “The recent passage of the Civil Partnership Bill by the Oireachtas in Dublin represents a very significant advance.

“It was a victory, not for gay people, but rather a victory for decency and for this country as a whole.

“It is clear that we are very nearly there in terms of the accomplishment of full human and civil rights of gay people in Ireland, both north and south. But we are not there yet.

Read more: Ireland "Nearly There" on Gay Equality

In response to The Supreme Court ruling that two gay men from Iran and Cameroon have the right to asylum in the UK, Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill said, ‘Stonewall welcomes this important ruling. Demanding that lesbian or gay people return home to conceal their sexuality bears no resemblance to the reality of gay life in many countries. We’re delighted that the Government is responding to what we asked of all the political parties in the run-up to the election. Our report No Going Back shows that UK Border Agency staff urgently need better guidance and support to deal with cases involving gay asylum seekers. We look forward to working with UKBA and ministers on these issues.’

Read more: Stonewall response to Supreme Court ruling on gay asylum seekers

The Supreme Court has ruled that two gay men from Iran and Cameroon have the right to asylum in Britain.

The Supreme Court's panel said it had decided "unanimously" to allow the appeals.

They were refused asylum in the UK on the grounds that they could avoid bad treatment by keeping their sexuality secret or behaving 'discreetly' if they were sent home. The policy has been described by some as the Anne Frank principle.

"It would have been no defence to a claim that Anne Frank faced well-founded fear of persecution in 1942 to say that she was safe in a comfortable attic," Lord Justice Pill agreed in the court of appeal last year. "Refugee status cannot be denied by expecting a person to conceal aspects of identity or suppress behaviour the person should be allowed to express," he added.

Read more: Supreme Court Rule on Gay Asylum Seekers