British PM speaks out against transphobia in support of TDoR.

Good on Gordon Brown

Funny, can't find a similar statement from the White House...

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners

Click here for DADT photobook

---

by: Louise @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 19:31:26 PM CST

Wow, this gives me great hope

for a better future for all of us.  PM Brown is doing what all leaders of conscience should be doing, and that is standing up for all of our human rights and saying so directly.  What is the political reality of him being able to facilitate the passage of the legislation he mentioned?

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

Lurleen on Twitter.

---

by: Lurleen @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 19:56:54 PM CST

"standing up for all of our human rights " Not quite. Not all of us.

Lurleen, You're absolutely right about the PMs support for TDoR. It's a welcome breakthrough and couldn't be more welcome even if Brown weren't facing a do or die election challenge from the Tories. It's a big step forward for the LGBT communities internationally and consistent with most of Labours more than friendly approach (except for same sex marriage).  

Nevertheless we can't ignore that fact that Brown, like Blair, is a lap dog who does what the WH tells him to do.

Don't forget that English troops are still in Iraq to guard the growing control of BP-Conoco and Chevron-Texaco over the oil that rightfully belongs to the Iraqi people. They killed a lot of Iraqis to get it and they don't mean to give it up.

One of the English units active around Basra was composed of some of the infamous murderers of the 1st, 3rd and 4th battalions of the Parachute Regiment who wantonly slaughtered and tortured Irish civilians on Bloody Sunday and used the same tactics in Iraq.

The 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment is currently in Afghanistan helping the US invasion force's illegal occupation and joining them in the mass murder of Afghan civilians and insurgents.

The looter rich much prefer working with Democrats like Obama and the Clintons - they're greedier, they fool more people and they're able to get away with a lot more than Republicans.  

---

by: donal1944 @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 21:02:14 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Have you considered

that the UK is in Iraq, etc. because they want to be there, all on their own?  Britain has a long political and economic history all its own in petroleum countries and far beyond.  They taught us the meaning of empire.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

Lurleen on Twitter.

---

by: Lurleen @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 21:18:36 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Depends on what you mean by "they".

If "they" is the government, then maybe.  If "they" is British people generally, IIRC they really weren't so fond of the idea at any point.  (The occupation does seem to be involved with the sort of neo-imperialist business-promotion-by-warfare program when it comes to British-based as well as U.S.-based corporations, of course...)

---

by: M @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 01:20:32 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Not to exonerate the looter class in England but they've been a junior partner to the US looters class US since WWII.

The wars are very unpopular in England and will likely lead to the downfall of Labour. It took a lot of arm twisting to get Blair to join in and immediatly led to a split in Labour, large desertions and eventually to Blair's downfall.

Bush insisted on English participation and offered them a share of the spoils. The US left Germany and France out of the deal which is the only reason they declined to participate.  

The looter rich much prefer working with Democrats like Obama and the Clintons - they're greedier, they fool more people and they're able to get away with a lot more than Republicans.  

---

by: donal1944 @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 03:16:09 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I am against the wars as much as anyone

but...

What led to Blair's downfall wasn't so much the wars, it was political rivalry with Brown.

And Labour's downfall is going to be in the end, more the disastrous economy than the wars.

---

by: rfloh @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 07:21:34 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Yes on the economy.

Heres something that indicates both Brown and Blair fear the impact of the war on their popularity.

"Tony Blair urged Gordon Brown to hold the independent inquiry into the Iraq war in secret because he feared that he would be subjected to a "show trial" if it were opened to the public, the Observer can reveal.

The revelation that the former prime minister - who led Britain to war in March 2003 - had intervened will fuel the anger of MPs, peers, military leaders and former civil servants, who were appalled by Brown's decision last week to order the investigation to be conducted behind closed doors."

The looter rich much prefer working with Democrats like Obama and the Clintons - they're greedier, they fool more people and they're able to get away with a lot more than Republicans.  

---

by: donal1944 @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 14:39:16 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Yeah, obviously any politician

doesn't like anything that makes them look bad. It doesn't mean that in the end, it will matter much.

Brown is going to be hurt by the economy, and the expenses scandal that hit parliament.

---

by: rfloh @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 20:37:22 PM CST

[ Parent ]

France staying out

might also have had something to do with terror at the thought of joining in on an invasion where the dude in charge had a habit of babbling about Gog and Magog and epic battles to destroy the world.

---

by: M @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 11:10:10 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Or American Fries.

http://davidsawyer.org/images/...

The looter rich much prefer working with Democrats like Obama and the Clintons - they're greedier, they fool more people and they're able to get away with a lot more than Republicans.  

---

by: donal1944 @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 14:32:48 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Let's not re-fight the "Troubles," Donal

During the Troubles, there was plenty of guilt, enough to cover everyone involved, both sides.

I tell you Chica that no greater abomination exists than women denying their spirit of sisterhood and instead becoming the oppressor. -Rebeca, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

---

by: MauraHennessey @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 15:49:32 PM CST

[ Parent ]

This is where I meant these comments to go.

Hi Maureen. I don't dispute your idea that the Troubles have abated but my opinion is that it's temporary. They've been going on since 1171 and they'll end when the English military leaves and Ireland is united.

For now, the news that fewer people are being killed is good news because the vast majority of the victims have been Irish. The underlying causes of the Troubles in the occupied north - apartheid, landlessness, discrimination and violence - continue to this day. Violence is the only one that's been abated. There's been no land reform and wage differentials remain at apartheid levels. For example "Northern Ireland call centre workers receive salaries over 26 per cent below the overall average. Wages in call centres in Northern Ireland are 15 per cent lower than Wales, 14 per cent lower than Scotland and 13 per cent lower than the lowest English region. Even the East Midlands, England's lowest paid region, has salary levels more than 14% higher than Northern Ireland's."  

Sinn Féin, if it becomes a principled left socialist party and becomes interpenetrated with the trade unions (admittedly a big leap for them) has a chance to complete the Peace Process. Irish Labor, the Greens and especially the SDLP are not up to the task and the two main parties Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are hopelessly entangled in capitalism and accommodation to the English. If Sinn Féin fails to move left and become the party of workers then the Peace Process will turn out to have been an interregnum like the twenty year break in the more or less continuous European war of 1914 to 1945.

I don't believe for a minute that any blame can be attached to the Irish for defending themselves although I agree that terrorism and counterterrorism deflect from the real struggle. Mass action in the end is the key to victory there just as it was in Algeria and Cuba. When the Irish tried peaceful mass action the Parachute Regiment treated them to a repeat of the massacres of Amritsar, Sharpeville and the murder of thousands of American patriots in prison ships during out revolution.

As my sainted Irish granma was fond of saying, "fok 'em."  

The looter rich much prefer working with Democrats like Obama and the Clintons - they're greedier, they fool more people and they're able to get away with a lot more than Republicans.  

---

by: donal1944 @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 21:46:12 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Economic and Political Basket Case

that the Republic is far better off without. Besides, the Republic has repudiated their claim to the North.

Sinn Féin becoming principled? That will happen in the same era that Gerry Adams finally apologises for the Garda killed in a robbery attempt...when hell freezes over.

And Ireland has a socialist party--the Labour party, for at least as long as "Michael D is rockin' in the Dail"

I tell you Chica that no greater abomination exists than women denying their spirit of sisterhood and instead becoming the oppressor. -Rebeca, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

---

by: MauraHennessey @ Mon Nov 23, 2009 at 23:30:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

For you Donal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Micahel D's finest hour--and on our behalf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

I tell you Chica that no greater abomination exists than women denying their spirit of sisterhood and instead becoming the oppressor. -Rebeca, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

---

by: MauraHennessey @ Mon Nov 23, 2009 at 23:50:51 PM CST

[ Parent ]

It matters little if the rightist parties in the Republic renounced the struggle in the occupied north.

They're just afraid that it'll spill over into the Republic, and rightly so. The fight in the occupied north has a dual character. It's simultaneously a nationalist, defensive fight against colonialist terrorist groups like those run by the DUP and a fight by Irish workers for an end to apartheid conditions. The 'Peace Process', cobbled together as a last ditch effort won't produce enough reforms to save the English colony. It'll have to be broken and rebuilt.

As for SF and Labour, I have a set of expectations of how they'll evolve as part of the ongoing class struggle for socialism and Irish unity. I expect to see some unification of nationalist and socialist groups on the road to the creation of a mass party for unification of and socialism.

Until the situation and the parties evolve more there's not much to argue about. The key questions for me are reformism vs. the fight for a unified, socialist Ireland run by and for working people and key to that is the suppression of the roman cult to pave the way for full GLBT equality among other things.

None of the parties in Ireland have a good position on same sex marriage except some sectarians like the SWP who are very sectarian, as only European ultralefts can be. Unless they change they'll remain on the fringes forever. Both SF and Labour are otherwise GLBT-friendly, if a bit clueless. Neither seems has an influential LGBT faction.

As for the Garda, well, they're cops. And you know how I feel about cops. Enough said.

And thanks for the Milwaukee video.

 

The looter rich much prefer working with Democrats like Obama and the Clintons - they're greedier, they fool more people and they're able to get away with a lot more than Republicans.  

---

by: donal1944 @ Wed Nov 25, 2009 at 00:18:51 AM CST

[ Parent ]

awesome

that's great news, nice one gordon.

---

by: veranda @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 21:44:06 PM CST

Enter the cynic...

Up until the last 6-12 months Gordon Brown has showed relatively little interest in LGBT rights, other than when prompted by his wife - civil rights have always been Tony Blair's area of expertise. Conversely, David Cameron has been actively wooing the pink vote ahead of next year's general election, and since then all three major parties have been trying to out-queer the others.

Politically this makes a lot of sense. The next general election is likely to be extremely close-fought, with many seats expected to be won or lost by very slim margins - perhaps less than 1% either way. Consequently any large voter demographic is a key target for senior politicians, and LGBTs are one of the UK's largest voting demographics, with 6% of the population and (because virtually the entire LGBT population is eligible) around 8% of the votes. Also, LGBTs are one of very few demographic groups spread evenly right across the UK, so the pink vote will have affect the election results everywhere, not just in specific areas.

This is the second time in the last few weeks that Brown has made a high-profile statement regarding LGBT rights; the other was the anti-hate-crime vigil in Trafalgar Square. Neither statement binds him to do anything, but it's very good publicity for his election campaign at a time when the pink vote is still very undecided - Cameron has made a potentially-major fuckup by aligning the Tories with Poland's far-right PiS, which has cost Cameron a huge amount of support both within and outwith the LGBT community.

____________________________________
Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum.

---

by: tavdy79 @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 10:53:47 AM CST

Not cynical at all

I've been keeping a little track of the Brits so I knew that the Tories had been wooing away some of the LGBTs.

And New Labour had been acting like a cold fish but now it's the run-up to the election.

Funny, they can seem to be like their American counterparts. Or are their American counterparts like them?

---

by: kevinchi @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 12:17:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

'Tory' was an Irish term for 'outlaw'. Over time it was applied to the Conservative Party for it's defense of the bandit looter class and their rape of Ireland.

The votes in the next general election will show us how successful the Tories have been in luring LGBT folks but I suspect they won't do very well. If you follow the comments and debates in PinkNewsseveral things become clear. Labour has an abysmal record on SSM, denying asylum to Iranian and Iraqi GLBT refugees and supressing cult hate speech. Nevertheless it has a huge GLBT and working class following. The bandits attract mainly the rich. Their followers are very much like the LCR and goGOP in the US. They vote their greed.

New Labour is in deep trouble because they were in office when the Clinton-Bush economic collapse created a world wide recession-depression. Labour sponsored some of the same deregulatory laws that led to the US collapse. Secondly, Blair did what he was told and sent English troops to aid the enormously unpopular US invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Labour has far and away the best record on GLBT rights legislation although much of that is based on none too subtle prodding by the EU. The Tories, like Obama and the Democrats here, make a lot of noise about being our 'fierce' defenders but quietly go about sabotaging our agenda. Neither major English party has the guts to go after the most homophobic institutions in England, the roman and anglo catholic cults. Parliament had granted exemptions to the cults allowing them to discriminate until the EU Commission intervened to end them. "This ruling is a significant victory for gay equality and a serious setback for religious employers who have been granted exemptions from anti-discrimination law," says GLBT rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.    
   

The looter rich much prefer working with Democrats like Obama and the Clintons - they're greedier, they fool more people and they're able to get away with a lot more than Republicans.  

---

by: donal1944 @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 14:26:56 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The American counterparts of the Tories are the Democrats. Republicans can be compared to the DUP, UKIP and BNP.

The looter rich much prefer working with Democrats like Obama and the Clintons - they're greedier, they fool more people and they're able to get away with a lot more than Republicans.  

---

by: donal1944 @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 14:46:02 PM CST

[ Parent ]

This is a good point...

The US political system has no electable equivalents to the SNP, Plaid Cymru, Mebyon Kernow or the Greens (the British Left) or Labour / Lib Dems (the British Centrists) and the British moderate-right (Tories) is equivalent to the US Left, so the equivalent of the Repugs is what's generally considered far-right in the UK: the English Democrats, DUP, UKIP & (for the GOP's wingnut fringe) the BNP.

Even then the Tories are too right wing for many Brits - if they win the next election outright it will increase the chances of Scotland voting for independence if the proposed referendum is held in 2010. The Tories' power base is rural England - they're have much less support in the major cities & Wales, and none in Scotland, Northern Ireland & Cornwall. There is a long and well-founded history of distrust of the Tories by the smaller Home Nations.

____________________________________
Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum.

---

by: tavdy79 @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 20:29:05 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The Troubles are far from over, The Peace Process merely suspended them.

Hi Maureen. I don't dispute your idea that the Troubles have abated but my opinion is that it's temporary. They've been going on since 1171 and they'll end when the English military leaves and Ireland is united.

For now, the news that fewer people are being killed is good news because the vast majority of the victims have been Irish. The underlying causes of the Troubles in the occupied north - apartheid, landlessness, discrimination and violence - continue to this day. Violence is the only one that's been abated. There's been no land reform and wage differentials remain at apartheid levels. For example "Northern Ireland call centre workers receive salaries over 26 per cent below the overall average. Wages in call centres in Northern Ireland are 15 per cent lower than Wales, 14 per cent lower than Scotland and 13 per cent lower than the lowest English region. Even the East Midlands, England's lowest paid region, has salary levels more than 14% higher than Northern Ireland's."  

Sinn Féin, if it becomes a principled left socialist party and becomes interpenetrated with the trade unions (admittedly a big leap for them) has a chance to complete the Peace Process. Irish Labor, the Greens and especially the SDLP are not up to the task and the two main parties Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are hopelessly entangled in capitalism and accommodation to the English. If Sinn Féin fails to move left and become the party of workers then the Peace Process will turn out to have been an interregnum like the twenty year break in the more or less continuous European war of 1914 to 1945.

I don't believe for a minute that any blame can be attached to the Irish for defending themselves although I agree that terrorism and counterterrorism deflect from the real struggle. Mass action in the end is the key to victory there just as it was in Algeria and Cuba. When the Irish tried peaceful mass action the Parachute Regiment treated them to a repeat of the massacres of Amritsar, Sharpeville and the murder of thousands of American patriots in prison ships during out revolution.

As my sainted Irish granma was fond of saying, "fok 'em."  

The looter rich much prefer working with Democrats like Obama and the Clintons - they're greedier, they fool more people and they're able to get away with a lot more than Republicans.  

---

by: donal1944 @ Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 21:26:54 PM CST