Still work to be done so LGBTQ+ people and the trans community can feel supported
In our weekly Friday Politics column, Labour leader on West Norfolk Council, Francis Bone, discusses equality…
This column follows on from last week’s article by Jo Rust in which she praised the success of this year’s very well-attended Lynn and West Norfolk Pride event, an annual extravaganza which celebrates the diverse communities of the borough.
The Pride event goes far to promote equality and inclusivity and is a real spectacle of peace and love. But there is still work to be done - hopefully by this government - so that LGBTQ+ people and the trans community can feel supported.
Minority groups around the country have recently been the targets of violence and anti-social behaviour incited by posts on social media. Such hateful and divisive actions caused great concern and were considerations when we were doing a risk assessment for our Pride event.
Our drag host Titania had received threats via social media and felt that she could not attend this year. It really is shocking how some people’s toxic opinions can be spread so easily, leading to mobs looking for trouble. Hate speech seems to have multiplied hugely with the advent of social media.
I know that not everyone is going to share the same opinions and respect that. It is the nature of diversity, as we are all individuals. We act, look and think differently from one another, but we are all human and that is fine.
The freedom of speech we have in this country is a great thing. But when speech is defamatory, divisive or stirs up tensions towards certain minority groups, it is just not acceptable. However, many mainstream forums seem to consider it acceptable for people to aim unkind or careless words at certain groups.
The worst of the hate speech found on social media can incite people to take action that is reminiscent of Nazi Germany during the 1930s. Lessons need to be learned from the mistakes of the past.
That is why I must commend the Churches Conservation Trust’s decision to cancel a Katie Hopkins performance planned for St Nicholas’ Chapel in Lynn.
Her past comments have attacked the trans community, stirred racial tensions and led to threats against vulnerable minority groups. To have biased opinions is one thing but to make a career out of spouting them - now in a comedy act - is something else. To my mind, this is another example of how hate is being put in the mainstream.
We live in a country that has benefited from historic immigration and what that has brought to our communities. As I have previously said, we all may have different values and opinions.
But if we have a willingness to accept those differences, people will discover that we are not that different at all. We cannot agree on everything but having conversations and finding common ground will make us a more united community.
My political point this week is that - no matter your race, gender or how you identify, where you come from or who you choose to live with, what you believe or how you express your faith – we should all feel free to be who we want to be.
