Peter Tatchell speaks at All Hallows
Lesbian and Gay Liberation Sunday, 22 July 2001
Coinciding with Rainbow Weekend in Leeds — a weekend of varied events
for local lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people —
we invited queer human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell to give an address
at our Sunday morning service on 22 July 2001, in All Hallows’ first
celebration of ‘Lesbian and Gay Liberation
Sunday’.
Press coverage beforehand and afterwards
The Guardian ran the story
on 17 July in its online version, Guardian Unlimited. For some reason
it didn’t appear in the printed newspaper. The Yorkshire Post
article (no longer available online) did appear in its printed version!
Ray was interviewed on Radio 4’s Sunday programme, and for
a while the interview was in their archive page.
After the event, the Yorkshire Post reported Peter’s address
reasonably fairly, if briefly, apart from the fact that the number of
people present at the service was 55, not 30! However, the best summary
of what Peter said is in The
Independent’s report; although very brief, it represents
the conciliatory tone of the address much more accurately than other reports.
Press release
The following press release was issued on 5 July 2001. Click on this
link for a copy of the press release in PDF format for printing out.
If you want to download the file, as opposed to viewing it in your browser,
right-click on the link and choose ‘Save Target As …’
[Internet Explorer] or ‘Save Link As …’ [Netscape].
PRESS RELEASE
PETER TATCHELL TO ADDRESS CHURCH CONGREGATION
ON ‘LESBIAN AND GAY LIBERATION SUNDAY’
All Hallows Church, Leeds
Lesbian and Gay Liberation Sunday, 10.30 am, Sunday 22 July 2001
Coinciding with Rainbow Weekend in Leeds — a weekend of varied events
for local lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people —
All Hallows Church, in Hyde Park, Leeds LS6, has invited queer human rights
campaigner Peter Tatchell to give an address at their Sunday morning service
on 22 July 2001, in All Hallows’ first celebration of ‘Lesbian
and Gay Liberation Sunday’.
Peter will speak at the 10.30 morning service, ‘Sharing the feast
of life — a celebration of Communion for all’, on the theme
of:
‘Time for radical reconciliation
— church repentance and gay forgiveness — healing the wounds
of 2,000 years of oppression’
Ray Gaston, Vicar of All Hallows, said:
‘Peter has been a thorn in the established church’s side for
a number of years now. His protests have often upset mainline church leaders
and congregations. But if the church is serious in its claim to want to
listen to lesbians and gays, his is a voice that must be heard. Many of
us in the church are embarrassed and outraged by church homophobia. Jesus
preached a gospel of liberation for all those marginalised by mainstream
society. The church’s unwillingness to offer equality to our lesbian
and gay brothers and sisters, and its misuse of Holy Scripture to promote
homophobia, needs to be resisted in the spirit of Jesus.’
He added: ‘We need to map out ways to work towards a reconciliation
and healing of 2,000 years of oppression. This will inevitably involve
the church facing the challenge of real repentance. Our invitation to
Peter is a small first step in this process.’
Peter Tatchell said:
‘I am delighted to have this opportunity to speak at All Hallows.
Its celebration of Lesbian and Gay Liberation Sunday signals a commitment
to an inclusive church that supports universal human rights. This contrasts
with the attitudes of many in the church hierarchy, who support discrimination
against homosexuals and oppose dialogue with the lesbian and gay community.
‘I have spoken in many pulpits, but usually without invitation.
The Archbishop of Canterbury had me silenced by the police when I tried
to speak out for gay human rights during his Easter Sermon in 1998. It
is wonderful to be invited to speak at All Hallows and to receive such
a warm welcome from the congregation.’
Referring to the substance of his address, Peter Tatchell said:
‘Over the last 2,000 years, the homophobia of the church establishment
has led to hundreds of millions of lesbians and gays worldwide being rejected
by their families, driven to depression and suicide, discriminated against
by anti-gay laws, and condemned to death for sodomy. Christian leaders,
such as the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury, continue to support
homophobic discrimination and have never shown any remorse for the persecution
of homosexual people.’
‘I hope that one day soon these leaders will renounce homophobia
and express their regret for past oppression; and that in return the lesbian
and gay community will respond with forgiveness and reconciliation’,
said Peter Tatchell.
For further details contact Ray Gaston on 0113 242 2205 (mobile
0775 1155124) or Peter Tatchell on 020 7403 1790.
This page was last updated on Sunday, 22 July 2001
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