Police Present Gay Christians With Anti-Homophobia Award [Excerpts]

December 4, 2007
Berean Call

Gay Christians have been presented with an award for their work in combating homophobia.

The award was given to the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) following their support for a controversial advert which appeared in the Independent newspaper, challenging faith-based homophobia.

Introducing the award Kevin Boyle a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Gay Police Association (GPA) said that Richard Kirker, chief executive of the LGCM, had first come to his attention in June 2000 when he was involved in a police investigation into homophobic attacks against the Rev Follett, the Vicar of Knightsbridge.

Speaking on the Government's recently announced proposal to introduce new legislation to make it a crime to incite hatred against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people, Rev Kirker stated: that some in the Church of England and some of the other more significant faith traditions were trying to undermine the values of tolerance and respect to which he believed that all in our society should be committed - irrespective of their faith or beliefs.

He went on to say that it was in this context that the work that Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) Mike Cunningham of Lancashire Police was doing on behalf of ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) was so important. He said that, "Your recommendation that religious views should be expressed "in an appropriate fashion" and 'does not confer a right to express those beliefs ... in a manner that amounts to discrimination against others' will, I hope help bring to an end the acceptability of religiously expressed homophobia across the whole police service."

The award was made at the GPA's 17th Annual Dinner in Brighton.

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/5988

[TBC: The "attacks" against the Rev Follett were not specified, leaving one to believe that they involved physical violence. They did not. Indeed, other articles do not furnish further details, beyond that the "attacks" are labeled "homophobic hate crimes." The one concrete detail furnished is that "Police are investigating allegations of blackmail and intimidation after Fr Follett told the parochial church council he was gay" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/813596.stm ). Blackmail involves a threat to reveal the improper behavior of an individual. Since Follett is openly homosexual, any blackmail would not be threatening to reveal his "sexual orientation."]