Anti Fascism

There is nothing British about homophobia

This is a press release from Nothing British

Turing

Alan Turing

The BNP claims that it is the party of traditional values and yet its outlook on modern day Britain is based entirely on irrational hatred and resistance towards change.

Modern Britain is proud of its international reputation for not persecuting those who are perceived as being different from the norm. This – in the eyes of many – is what makes us great and admired around the world. British values are born out of a long standing tradition of constantly evolving values and and an ability to adapt to the changing times.

This means we accept that in the past we haven’t always got it right. Whether it be on the Slave Trade or Gay Rights, Britain has been one of the most advanced countries in the world. We may be ashamed of our role in exporting slaves from Africa, but proud of abolishing it. Ashamed of our treatment of World War Two heroes like Alan Turing, but patriotic of the fact that he was British and proud he would be welcome in modern day Britain.

On patriotism George Orwell got it right when he said: “… it is a devotion to something that is always changing and yet is felt to be mystically the same. It is the bridge between the future and the past.”

But Nick Griffin’s anachronistic political vision does not look forward; it is obsessed with the past. An example of this un-patriotic behaviour is his party’s deep rooted homophobia.

Nick Griffin says the BNP’s policy on homosexuality is not to recriminalise it, but instead to extend Clause 28. In yet another example of Griffin’s attitude towards undermining the free press, he wants government to interfere and stop the media from promoting what he calls “homosexuality as a wonderful lifestyle”.

The BNP’s hostility towards that very British quality of tolerance is best exemplified by the party’s Legal Director, Lee Barnes:

“When I see a Gay Pride march on the TV it doesnt make me tolerant – I simply think ‘what a bunch of wankers”

But, most shocking of all is Nick Griffin’s hostility towards another British and Christian value, compassion. After the David Copeland (a former member of the BNP) Soho bombings in 1999 Griffin said:

“The TV footage of dozens of gay demonstrators flaunting their perversions in front of the world’s journalists showed just why so many ordinary people find these creatures so repulsive.”

Griffin attempts to dress his personal prejudices up as being Christian based. On BBC Question Time he said that he found the sight of two men kissing disgusted him:

“I understand that homosexuals don’t understand that, but that is how a lot of us feel. A lot of Christians feel that way.”

But Griffin should know there is nothing Christian about intolerance and there is certainly nothing British about homophobia. Modern Britain takes great pride in being a fair and tolerant country, Nick Griffin doesn’t.