This weekend, a national convention will take place which brings
together politicians, faith communities, LGBT people, student
activists and others to fight against fascism.
Unite Against Fascism and One Society Many Cultures have a proud
tradition of holding events which challenge the attempts by
those in mainstream society who say that our communities are at
odds with each other, that diversity is a problem, not a
strength.
Ultimately the far right benefit from this myth. When David
Cameron attacked multiculturalism in a speech earlier this year,
the far right BNP, EDL and Le Front National praised him.
As LGBT people we must be clear: attacks on diversity and the
rise of the far right go hand in hand, feeding a climate of
hostility that eventually impacts on us. Across Europe, the far
right target Muslims and migrants but once emboldened or
electorally advanced, they target LGBT, Jewish communities and
others. Such a far right presence across Eastern Europe has been
accompanied by bans or physical attacks on Pride assemblies. This
makes the EDL's claims about its LGBT division all the more
grotesque. Their use of the pink triangle, as with the Star of
David, is an attempt to appear legitimate, when in fact they are
the modern day successors of the Nazis whose murderous policies saw
the attempted annihilation of Jewish, LGBT, Black communities and
others.
This is why I oppose the singling out of the Muslim community as
if it is solely responsible for homophobia in Britain. The EDL
attempted to exploit this sentiment when it organised a Pride march
through Tower Hamlets this April, at a time when higher reports of
homophobic hate crime were occurring in Westminster and
Islington, areas with a less significant Muslim
community. Thankfully, the march was stopped by LGBT
activists in east London and the Muslim LGBT group Imaan who
exposed that one of the founders of the EDL was organising it.
In contrast, East London Pride was organised last month with an
explicit anti-racist, anti-Islamophobic theme to keep the far right
away. To break down barriers with any community, we must support
their campaigns against injustice. LGBT communities who offered
support to the miners in the eighties raised awareness in the
Labour movement which led to the creation of LGBT sections in the
trade unions. East London Pride was addressed by Lutfur Rahman, the
first Muslim to be elected a Mayor in Britain, who was warmly
welcomed by the LGBT audience, stating that the LGBT communities
are a valuable part of East London community.
Unity between all communities is necessary to defeat fascism, and
to build bridges to overcome the hostile climate that has seen a
rise in racist and homophobic hate crimes. This unity was central
to the defeat of the EDL in Tower Hamlets in early September when
faith communities, politicians, LGBT representatives and others
came together to reject the EDL who failed, for the third time in
just over a year to march through the borough. I was proud to be
one of four LGBT speakers who were warmly received by the crowd at
the rally that day. LGBT representatives will be joining with a
broad alliance of speaker to do the same this weekend at the One
Society Many Cultures/ Unite Against Fascism National
Convention.
The event takes place at the TUC conference centre,
Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS from 9.30am to 5pm on
Saturday 15 October.
For further information,
click here
Vicki Baars is the NUS LGBT Officer (Women's
Place)
