Stephen Twigg backs Labour initiative to encourage more LGBT MPs

lgbtpolitics Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:31:15 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Stephen Twigg's place in British political history was assured on May 1st 1997.

He was the young out gay Labour candidate who beat Michael Portillo in Enfield Southgate and in doing so provided the iconic moment in the election that ushered Tony Blair into office and condemned the Tories to a decade in the wilderness.

Interview on PinkNews.co.uk




Interview on PinkNews.co.uk



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Stephen Twigg backs Labour initiative to encourage more LGBT MPs | 17 comments (17 topical)

Re: Stephen Twigg (#1)

by Prbo on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 09:38:13 AM GMT

I must say I'm incredibly saddened to see tokenism alive in all parties when it comes to selecting candidates.  Fundamentally, it's not whether candidates are male, female, black, asian, gay or whatever - it's whether they're up to the job that matters.  Trying to replicate the makeup of the country at large in the Commons is futile, as well as completely undemocratic.


Re: Stephen Twigg (#2)

by adwilliams134 on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:26:08 AM GMT

Tokenism breeds and reinforces resentment and discrimination.  The colour, creed, disablity or sexuality of a candidtae should not even be in the reckoning.   It should be entirely on ability tempered by experience and that is all and nothing else should be considered.

Why do we even have LGBT politiics?  Do we have Marmite eaters politics?  Yamaha Motorbike politics?  

Where exactly do you draw the line? For instance, I bet there are more Liverpool FC supporters in the population than LGBT so does that mean we should make sure they are fully represented? 


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Re: Stephen Twigg (#3)

by SW on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:03:39 PM GMT

Good grief. I half-expected you to say it is "political correctness gone mad". LGBT Labour exists because there is discrimination. Their general election campaigns are really important. This scheme is part of continuing to support LGBT people's participation in Labour politics. I hope a group of Liverpool FC supporters also get together and raise money for candidates! But this kind of comment above....just grow up!


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Re: Stephen Twigg (#4)

by adwilliams134 on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:27:30 PM GMT

Do you not think that politicising sexuality and making it a political issue demeans and denigrates it and reinforces negative opinions?

I can't give a flying what someones sexuality is but if you flaunt whatever it is in my face that is offensive.

And as for Liverpool FC,  they are far far more important in my life than you will ever be.  In fact, marmite is as well. But not Yamaha


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Re: Stephen Twigg (#5)

by SW on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:39:32 PM GMT

Too late, it is already politicised and I am pleased about that because it meant that my party introduced laws for equality.

Gay's "flaunting" their sexuality - you such are a cliché from the 1980s.

I would also say that Liverpool FC is more important to me  than you are (and I hate football).


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Re: Stephen Twigg (#6)

by adwilliams134 on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:45:03 PM GMT

As a Liverpool supporter I'm glad you agree that Liverpool FC are far more important than either of us.


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Re: Stephen Twigg (#7)

by NorthernMonkey on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 05:47:15 PM GMT

Why do we even have LGBT politiics?  Do we have Marmite eaters politics? 

It might have something to do with the fact that gay people still get beaten up and murdered in the street for being gay, gay teenagers still get bullied at school for being gay, homophobic abuse is still openly tolerated in society as shown when high-cultured Spurs fans chanted songs about Sol Campbell having AIDS and that the number of MP's in the Commons who are considered openly gay amount to roughly 1-2% of the total.

Now, I may be out of touch with the marmite-eating community here but I wasn't aware that they suffered such similar problems. If you know differently, then by all means let me know and maybe we could start some sort of campaign together?


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Re: Stephen Twigg (#8)

by adwilliams134 on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 06:26:35 PM GMT

Those are criminal offences.  They should be reported to the Police and the Police act accordingly.  It does not warrant a seperat politic.  Inclusiveness means exactly that.  I'm a firm believer in Clinton's "Don't Ask,  Don't Tell"

As for what Spurs fans chant,  I have yet to be to a football match where fans don't chant abuse.  Jesus,  you should hear the song about Posh Spice that used to be sung when David Beckham was a Manc.  And as for Munich air disaster.

The other week,  John Terry spent 90 minutes being abused, sung about and genrally trashed.  At the end of the match he came back out with a bottle of beer,  walked down to the opposing fans that had been giving him hell and stood there having a laugh and a joke. 

It's part of football,  it doesn't mean anything.

Do you go to any Premier League games?


[ Parent ]

Re: Stephen Twigg (#9)

by jkitleft on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 06:47:01 PM GMT

1) Glad to hear you're a Liverpool supporter

2) Don't ask, Don't tell is crap. It isn't a matter or privacy, as soldiers have been thrown out for writing about their sexuality in their diaries.

3) A higher proportion of gay kids are phsically bullied, and 17% have received death threats.


I agree that there is already specific offences for hate crimes, because they're commited against human beings.


As for football, no one could possibly say that there aren't at least a few dozen gay footballers playing in the top league. The FA should crack down on homophobia at matches, like they did on racism. They should get famous footballers to appear in ads before matches condemning homophobia. Many gay kids don't come out because they don't fit the stereotype of a lisping camp man. If gay footballers were to come out, we might have a more relaxed culture about homosexuality.


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Re: Stephen Twigg (#10)

by adwilliams134 on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 07:31:05 PM GMT

Some good points jk.

2) It used to be an offence to be gay in the Armed Forces.  It isn't anymore and hasn't been for some time however they are subject to the same rules as the straight soldiers - no relationships within the unit,  no crossing the soldier/officer line.   That said,  when it was illegal to be gay,  it was something that was rarely enforced.  I know several gay soldiers from my time in the army who were openly gay and enjoyed succesful carrer's.  One was a para who would smack you in the mouth if you called him gay.  You could call him a pouf though.  He just hated the word gay.  Another reached Warrant Officer and his nickname was GayRay.   Usually thise discharged for being gay were actually just got rid off because they were bad soldiers and that was a reason they could bin them.  A lot were also straight who used it as an excuse to get out for free.

3 I wouldn't know anything about so I can't comment but by kid I assume you mean teenager

Why should a footballer come out if they are gay?  Should a straight one come out? It's is of no consequence except to the opposition's fans.  They would barrack your gay player for being gay while cheering their own on.  They aren't being picked on because of their sexuality.  They are being picked on because of the shirt they wear.   Remeber the Gabrielle Heinze saga where United wouldn't sell him to Liverpool even though he wanted to go there?  They would sell him to anyone - even Chavski and the Arse,  but not Liverpool. (he ended up at Madrid) .I'm a Liverpool fan living in Greater Manchester so you can imagine the flak I get - I'm usually referred to as the "Mouthy ginger-haired thieving scouser" by the people I work with.  And I'm not even a scouser.  In turn I call them 'Munichs'  or 'Skip-Lickers'.  It's just banter.  It doesn't mean a thing.


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Re: Stephen Twigg (#13)

by jkitleft on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 11:07:53 PM GMT

I absolutely understand that gay footballers shouldn't be forced to come out. But I think if we cracked down on homophobia, gay footballers might come out, and it would be easier for gay teenagers to come out. 20 years ago, black footballers got called monkeys and would get bannanas thrown at them from the crowd. Disgusting. But when the FA cracked down on racism, it made it easier for black footballers to play, and only when British teams are playing in Eastern Europe is there any serious racial abuse thrown at them anymore.


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Re: Stephen Twigg (#11)

by NorthernMonkey on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 08:24:06 PM GMT

I'm a firm believer in Clinton's "Don't Ask,  Don't Tell"

Disgusting. Thank god you've left the party. The BNP would be more up your street.

In your world, gays should neither be seen nor heard.

Well with all due respect, get stuffed. People will act how is natural to them. And if you don't like it, tough.


[ Parent ]

Re: Stephen Twigg (#12)

by adwilliams134 on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 08:36:34 PM GMT

Since when does don't ask don't tell mean they should stay hidden?  So you thing that the Democrats are some sort of neo-fascist leaning party.  I'm sure Obama might have something to say on that score.   People's sexuality is their own affair it is no business of anyone else.  I couldn't care less if people wantt to shag sheep so long as it's behind closed doors and the RSPCA don't find out.

Knob


[ Parent ]

Re: Stephen Twigg (#14)

by NorthernMonkey on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 01:46:07 AM GMT

Do you actually know what 'Don't ask don't tell' is? Homosexuals HAVE to stay hidden under the policy - they cannot discuss being gay or admit to having a same-sex partner at home. They have to live a lie whilst their heterosexual colleagues can discuss their sexual exploits and relationships at home til the cows come home.

That's probably why in 2006 alone, 612 gay members of the US armed forces were kicked out for being gay. If you think that's in any way acceptable then you're an ass.

Don't you realise that Clinton originally wanted to allow gays to serve in military freely? It was only because Congress wouldn't let him, that he was forced to compromise. Clinton has always been against 'Don't ask don't tell' and he wants it repealed.

Barack Obama (as well as all of the other Democratic candidates) has repeatedly called for it to be repealed, and said he would do so if elected President.

You're a perfect example of why I have a problem with the wacky left of the party - there's a constant pretence to a man-of-the-people building a socialist utopia, but too often there comes in creeping nastiness such as homophobia, support for Castro etc. Not all are like this, but certainly many are.

Maybe if you brushed up on your knowledge of the issue, you'd understand you're pretty much alone on the left in thinking this (not for the first time).

Knob.


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Re: Stephen Twigg (#15)

by adwilliams134 on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 08:07:13 AM GMT

Sexuality should not be an issue in any walk of life.  You should not be allowed to ask if anyone is gay or straight.  It is totally irrelevant.  It is a subject that should not be politicised,  it should be apolitical like religion. 


[ Parent ]

Re: Stephen Twigg (#16)

by NorthernMonkey on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 10:05:20 AM GMT

You should not be allowed to ask if anyone is gay or straight.

Yeh, right. And the odds of that happening are six trillion to one.


[ Parent ]

Re: Stephen Twigg (#17)

by SW on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 10:29:56 AM GMT

Adwilliams - you are The Daily Mail and I claim my five pounds!

The only reason there are now hate crime laws, protection in employment and removal of the armed forces ban is because of people coming out and making sexuality political. In the 1950s, there was a don't ask, don't tell policy. Plus suicides, prosecutions, terror and misery.

No-one is forcing you or anyone to come out. But LGBT Labour has changed the world by doing everything you criticise.


[ Parent ]

Stephen Twigg backs Labour initiative to encourage more LGBT MPs | 17 comments (17 topical)