Lord Alli has written to the Pink News expressing his pleasure at the majority vote to reject the same sex marriage wrecking bill in the House of Lords but warning that there is still a long way to go.
Lord Waheed Alli, a gay Muslim elected to the Lords in 1998, said that despite changes, young people still faced homophobic bullying and “growing up gay in Britain” is still “tough”.
The Labour peer said that attitudes had changed in the Lords since 1998 but there were still people who labelled homosexuality as “not normal”, “dangerous” and “a perversion”. Some peers till identified being gay with paedophilia and believe us to be predatory, he added.
But he also praised the “seismic shift” in some Tory circles, expressing admiration for David Cameron’s “courage and leadership” and Lord Jenkin for speaking “simply, beautifully and powerfully” in favour of equality. However, he also made reference to Lord Tebbitt’s “rant about lesbian queens” and the publicity it raised.
The 390 – 148 vote against the amendment is big and welcome but it does not mean that same sex marriage is safe. The bill comes back in committee the week commencing 17th June, it will have its report stage 8th July and third reading on the 15th July. According to Alli, it’s opponents are determined to scupper it and we must support it every step of the way.
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