McKellen has continued to be very active in LGBT rights efforts. In a statement on his website regarding his activism, the actor commented that: McKellen is a co-founder of Stonewall, an LGBT rights lobby group in the United Kingdom, named after the Stonewall riots. McKellen is also patron of LGBT History Month, Pride London, Oxford Pride, GAY-GLOS, LGBT Foundation, and FFLAG where he appears in their video "Parents Talking".
LGBT rights campaigning
Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen | LGBT rights campaigning
LGBT rights LGBT rights. LGBT rights LGBT rights
what is the regina monologues?
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Fourth episode of "The Simpsons"' fifteenth season.
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when was it released?
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November 23, 2003
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who directed it?
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Mark Kirkland
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who are the characters in that?
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Mr. Burns, Bart, Milhouse, Marge, Homer, Abraham Simpson, etc.
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what is that episode's story all about, in short?
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Simpson family travel to the United Kingdom for vacation and there, they meet several celebrities. Later, Homer is arrested and locked for accidentally crashing into the Queen's carriage, meanwhile, Abraham Simpson journeys to find Edwina.
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what celebrities do they meet in that episode?
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Tony Blair, Evan Marriott, Ian McKellen and J. K. Rowling
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did all the above people lend their voices for this show speaking in terms of reality?
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Yes
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who is that second celebrity mentioned?
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Sorry. I cannot find the answer based on the context.
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who is that third celebrity mentioned?
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An English actor.
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can you name some of his tv shows/films he has appeared in?
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Richard III, Gods and Monsters, X-Men films, and The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
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name some of his charitable works.
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Appeared in a series of TV advertisements to support Age UK and umpired in March 2011 for a charity cricket match.
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what rights has he campaigned for?
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McKellen has continued to be very active in LGBT rights efforts. In a statement on his website regarding his activism, the actor commented that: McKellen is a co-founder of Stonewall, an LGBT rights lobby group in the United Kingdom, named after the Stonewall riots. McKellen is also patron of LGBT History Month, Pride London, Oxford Pride, GAY-GLOS, LGBT Foundation, and FFLAG where he appears in their video "Parents Talking".
Ian McKellen | LGBT rights campaigning
While McKellen had made his sexual orientation known to fellow actors early on in his stage career, it was not until 1988 that he came out to the general public, in a programme on BBC Radio. The context that prompted McKellen's decision—overriding any concerns about a possible negative effect on his career—was that the controversial Section 28 of the Local Government Bill, known simply as Section 28, was then under consideration in the British Parliament. Section 28 proposed prohibiting local authorities from promoting homosexuality "... as a kind of pretended family relationship". McKellen became active in fighting the proposed law, and, during a BBC Radio 3 programme where he debated Section 28 with the conservative journalist Peregrine Worsthorne, declared himself as a gay.
Ian McKellen | LGBT rights campaigning
Section 28 was, however, enacted and remained on the statute books until 2000 in Scotland and 2003 in England and Wales. Section 28 never applied in Northern Ireland. In 2003, during an appearance on "Have I Got News For You", McKellen claimed when he visited Michael Howard, then Environment Secretary (responsible for local government), in 1988 to lobby against Section 28, Howard refused to change his position but did ask him to leave an autograph for his children. McKellen agreed, but wrote, "Fuck off, I'm gay." McKellen described Howard's junior ministers, Conservatives David Wilshire and Dame Jill Knight, who were the architects of Section 28, as the 'ugly sisters' of a political pantomime.
Ian McKellen | LGBT rights campaigning
McKellen has stated that he was influenced in his decision by the advice and support of his friends, among them noted gay author Armistead Maupin. In a 1998 interview that discusses the 29th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, McKellen commented, I have many regrets about not having come out earlier, but one of them might be that I didn't engage myself in the politicking. He has said of this period: My own participating in that campaign was a focus for people [to] take comfort that if Ian McKellen was on board for this, perhaps it would be all right for other people to be as well, gay and straight.
Ian McKellen | LGBT rights campaigning
In the 1970s, McKellen became a stalwart of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre of Great Britain. McKellen was knighted in the 1991 New Year Honours for services to the performing arts, and made a Companion of Honour for services to drama and to equality in the 2008 New Year Honours. He has been openly gay since 1988, and continues to be a champion for LGBT social movements worldwide. He was awarded Freedom of the City of London in October 2014.
Ian McKellen | Introduction
In April 2010, along with actors Brian Cox and Eleanor Bron, McKellen appeared in a series of TV advertisements to support Age UK, the charity recently formed from the merger of Age Concern and Help the Aged. All three actors gave their time free of charge. A cricket fan since childhood, McKellen umpired in March 2011 for a charity cricket match in New Zealand to support earthquake victims of the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. McKellen is an honorary board member for the New York- and Washington, D.C.-based organization Only Make Believe. Only Make Believe creates and performs interactive plays in children's hospitals and care facilities.
Ian McKellen | Charity work
In 1993, as national secretary of Family Solidarity, he campaigned against the decriminalisation of homosexuality, calling it "unnatural". In 2015, in the lead up to the marriage equality referendum, he campaigned against it, and called for a no vote.
Joe McCarroll | LGBT rights
When male homosexuality was decriminalised in England and Wales in 1967, the age of consent was set at 21. It was lowered to 18 in 1994, but Morris and Sutherland took their case to Europe to demand it be reduced further to 16, the same age as it is for heterosexuals. They invoked Articles 8 and 19 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantee the right to a private life and protection from discrimination. Their case was originally backed by the gay rights group Stonewall and later Morris formed his own organisation, YouthSpeak, which was funded by Sir Ian McKellen.
Chris Morris (activist) | The equal age of consent campaign
Paisley preached against homosexuality, supported laws criminalising it and picketed various gay rights events. He denounced it as "a crime against God and man and its practice is a terrible step to the total demoralisation of any country". Save Ulster from Sodomy was a campaign launched by Paisley in 1977, in opposition to the Northern Ireland Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform, established in 1974. Paisley's campaign sought to prevent the extension to Northern Ireland of the Sexual Offences Act 1967, which had decriminalised homosexual acts between males over 21 years of age in England and Wales. Paisley's campaign failed when legislation was passed in 1982 as a result of the previous year's ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of "Dudgeon v United Kingdom".
Ian Paisley | Campaign against homosexuality
In 2005, the organisation received a substantial bequest from a former member, Derek Oyston of Gateshead. In early 2009 the organisation were campaigning to prevent cases of historic child sex abuse being prosecuted if raised more than five years after the young person gained age of majority.
Campaign for Homosexual Equality | History
The gay rights organisation Stonewall, as well as several Labour politicians, questioned her suitability for a high-profile Conservative Party role owing to leaflets issued during her 2005 election campaign that contained views which they claimed were homophobic. Some of her 2005 campaign leaflets claimed that Labour's lowering of the homosexual age of consent from 18 to 16, under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000, was "allowing schoolchildren to be propositioned for homosexual relationships", and that homosexuality was being "peddled" to children as young as seven in schools. On a 2009 episode of "Question Time" episode featuring Nick Griffin of the British National Party (see Immigration section below), Warsi said of same-sex civil partnerships, "I think that people who want to be in a relationship together, in the form of a civil partnership, absolutely have the right to do that." Speaking in December 2013 at a BNP Paribas event in support for the Kaleidoscope Trust, she apologised for her leaflets and said the Conservative Party had been "on the wrong side of history" on gay rights.
Sayeeda Warsi, Baroness Warsi | Gay rights
Those campaigning against the amendment claimed they were simply acting to protect children. Baroness Young, the leader of the campaign against the amendment, said, "Homosexual practices carry great health risks to young people."
LGBT rights in the United Kingdom | Equal age of consent
Peter Gary Tatchell (born 25 January 1952) is a British human rights campaigner, originally from Australia, best known for his work with LGBT social movements. Tatchell was selected as the Labour Party's parliamentary candidate for Bermondsey in 1981. He was then denounced by party leader Michael Foot for ostensibly supporting extra-parliamentary action against the Thatcher government. Labour subsequently allowed him to stand in the Bermondsey by-election in February 1983, in which the party lost the seat to the Liberals. In the 1990s he campaigned for LGBT rights through the direct action group OutRage!, which he co-founded. He has worked on various campaigns, such as Stop Murder Music against music lyrics allegedly inciting violence against LGBT people and writes and broadcasts on various human rights and social justice issues.
Peter Tatchell | Introduction
This campaign and other controversial statements have led opponents to accuse him of homophobia. In 2011, he was knighted for services to transport and the voluntary sector. The honour was criticised by Scottish Labour Party politicians and by gay rights campaigners.
Brian Souter | Introduction
Broughton has been involved in animal rights for over 30 years. He worked on Operation Osprey in Scotland when he was 15, living in a tent to guard osprey nests. He later worked in animal sanctuaries, and campaigned against zoos, circuses, factory farming, and live animal exports. He lives in Northampton with Bella, a rescue dog, devoting most of his time to SPEAK. He told "The Independent on Sunday": This was always my life, but now it takes up so much of my life that it's very difficult. In fact survival is very, very hard. My flat's nothing special – two rooms – and I live as frugally as I possibly can to make sure I can campaign.
Mel Broughton | Activism
In 2010 Cameron was given a score of 36% in favour of lesbian, gay and bisexual equality by Stonewall. Prior to 2005, Cameron was opposed to gay rights, calling it a "fringe agenda" and attacking the then-Prime Minister Tony Blair for "moving heaven and earth to allow the promotion of homosexuality in our schools" by repealing the anti-gay Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988. Cameron is also recorded by Hansard as having voted against same-sex adoption rights in 2002, but he denies this, claiming he abstained from the three-line whip imposed on him by his party. In 2008, he wanted lesbians who receive IVF treatment to be required to name a father figure, which received condemnation from LGBT equality groups.
David Cameron | LGBT rights
YouthSpeak sent delegations of teenagers to meet MPs and the media to tell their personal stories about how an unequal age of consent affected their lives. The group also projected a laser beam onto Big Ben demanding "16 for everyone" and delivered a 25,000-strong petition to new prime minister Tony Blair when he was elected in May 1997. Opposition to the campaign was led by Conservative peer Baroness Young and the then Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, among others.
Chris Morris (activist) | The equal age of consent campaign
According to the "Harrow Times", he was accused of hypocrisy by a former fellow Brent council colleague who claimed she had an 11-year affair with him whilst he was married. On 5 February 2013, Bob Blackman voted against the bill in the House of Commons Second Reading vote on marriage equality in Britain. In 2012, when the Conservative Party launched its consultation into legalising same-sex marriages, Blackman suggested that David Cameron should resurrect Section 28, stating that he strongly believed that "Section 28 was the right rules to have in school so that we should not in any way shape or form promote same-sex relationships" and said he would be "very opposed" to seeing teachers being forced to say same-sex relationships are equivalent to heterosexual relationships.
Bob Blackman | Campaigns
He became a tireless campaigner for the disabled, especially the deaf and blind, and won broad cross-party sympathy, support and respect in parliament for his approach. In 1972, he sponsored the pivotal motion in the House of Commons making a distinction between legal and moral obligation. The success of this enabled "The Sunday Times" to continue its moral campaign for improved compensation for children disabled by thalidomide even while the parents' legal case was still technically in the courts. His Labour colleague Alf Morris (later Lord Morris of Manchester) was also a supporter. The editor of "The Sunday Times", Harold Evans, later wrote in "Good Times, Bad Times" how Ashley selflessly gave up writing his autobiography so as to concentrate on the thalidomide campaign.
Jack Ashley, Baron Ashley of Stoke | Disability campaigner
Mike Buonaiuto created a viral advertisement on behalf of "C4EM" for release in late April 2012, with a teaser available before. The teaser features stills from the advert to the speech of David Cameron at the Conservative Party conference in 2011, when he announced "I don't support gay marriage in spite of being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I am a Conservative." On 25 April 2012, Buonaiuto's short film was released encouraging support for the government plans to legislate in favour of equal civil marriage rights for LGBT people. The video shows British army members returning home to their families, with one reunion turning into a marriage proposal between a same-sex couple.
Coalition for Equal Marriage | Advertising
He had previously visited a nuclear power station on the grounds that "I am a convinced opponent of nuclear power but an opponent who wants to conduct the debate about new nuclear capacity and our energy needs on the basis of facts. My visit to Torness is at my own request." In the same year he championed the cause of affordable access to housing with his support of Midlothian Council's investment in providing housing. In 2008, he wrote to the First Minister Alex Salmond seeking an assurance that any future meetings with members of the Northern Ireland Assembly would raise the issue of attitudes towards LGBT rights by its ministers.
Colin Fox (politician) | Exit from parliament
Portillo was selected as Conservative candidate but faced demonstrations organised by gay rights group OutRage! and its principal campaigner Peter Tatchell who protested against his vote for an unequal age of consent for gay and straight sex, and support for the ban on homosexuality in the UK armed forces while Secretary of State for Defence. Tatchell continued to try to confront Portillo throughout the election, not assuaged by Portillo saying that he had changed his mind on the age of consent.
1999 Kensington and Chelsea by-election | Introduction
A Conservative politician, Dickens fought unsuccessfully for Middlesbrough in February 1974 and for Ealing North in October 1974. He won Huddersfield West in 1979 but this seat was abolished after boundary reviews. He was selected as the Conservative candidate for Littleborough and Saddleworth, which he won in 1983. Described as "Falstaffian" and "the original 'rent-a-quote' man", over his time in parliament he campaigned for causes as diverse as the return of hanging and the banning of teddy bears. He indicated in a 1987 BBC "Heart of the Matter" documentary that consideration should be given to re-criminalising homosexuality to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, and opposed the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) and ordination of gay priests.
Geoffrey Dickens | Member of Parliament
Disability Rights UK campaigns on a number of issues, including independent living, work and education, and against hate crime, bullying and negative attitudes towards the disabled.
Disability Rights UK | Campaigning
He was honoured by the organisation in 2012 and hosted their annual Make Believe on Broadway Gala in November 2013. He garnered publicity for the organisation by stripping down to his Lord of the Rings underwear on stage.
Ian McKellen | Charity work
An early issue raised in the campaign was Tim Farron's views, as a Christian, regarding gay sex and LGBT rights. After declining to state whether he thought gay sex was a sin, Farron affirmed that he believed neither being gay nor having gay sex are sinful.
2017 United Kingdom general election | Liberal Democrats
He was described by "The Guardian" as one of the most "hardline right wingers" up for election in 2001 after comments he made in 1991 about charities fighting the AIDS epidemic were reported. Field criticised AIDS campaigns as a waste of taxpayers' money and wanted mandatory tests for AIDS: "Many charitable trusts set up to help counter Aids in the mid-1980s became little more than a gay rights front", he wrote in "Crossbow" in 1991. As a parliamentarian Field, however, proved a strong supporter of equal rights. Within months of his election, in October 2001, he was one of four Tory MPs supporting a 10-minute rule bill on civil partnerships, a course he continued to support until it was on the statue books.
Mark Field | Parliamentary career
Hurst refuses to be interviewed by newspapers owned by Rupert Murdoch, was a critic of the Blair government, and in one interview, stated that he stopped attending a back support group which helped him with his ankylosing spondylitis after he found out that it was run as a charity, explaining that "I believe it should be provided by the State through taxation. I'd be very hypocritical if I used their facilities when I won't do medical charity benefits". According to comments made by Hurst on his Twitter account in 2014, he is a supporter of the UK Independence Party. He is a supporter of Brexit and an advocate for free speech, criticising the banning of Tommy Robinson by Twitter and alleging double standards by the media over Robinson's contempt of court hearings and Peter Hain's use of parliamentary privilege.
Lee Hurst | Politics
In June 2005, Atkinson led a coalition of the United Kingdom's most prominent actors and writers, including Nicholas Hytner, Stephen Fry, and Ian McEwan, to the British Parliament in an attempt to force a review of the controversial Racial and Religious Hatred Bill, which they felt would give overwhelming power to religious groups to impose censorship on the arts. In 2009, he criticized homophobic speech legislation, saying that the House of Lords must vote against a government attempt to remove a free speech clause in an anti-gay hate law. Atkinson opposed the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 to outlaw inciting religious hatred, arguing that, "freedom to criticise ideas — any ideas even if they are sincerely held beliefs — is one of the fundamental freedoms of society.
Rowan Atkinson | Political activism
Sitting MP Iain Wright was the only candidate from 2010 to remain on the much-extended ballot paper in 2015, where the three main parties faced competition from UKIP; the Green Party; and three independent candidates, each standing primarily on healthcare-related platforms. Popular local taxi driver and charity fundraiser Stephen Picton put himself forward as the voice of the hospital campaigners, although this was challenged by the last-minute candidacy of Sandra Allison, who stood under the banner of 'Your Vote Could Save Our Hospital'. John Hobbs, an 80 year old autism campaigner stood under the tagline ‘Tell it like it is’.
Hartlepool (UK Parliament constituency) | 2015 general election
On the subject of AIDS it was her government with Norman Fowler as Health Secretary which faced the issue head on and refused to take a moral tone on public information and prevention work. He finishes by stating that "There are many gay Tory men who would like to sleep with David Cameron but it is Lady Thatcher whose portrait hangs over their bed!" During the First Thatcher ministry, Criminal Justice Act 1980 was passed in 1980, legalizing same-sex sexual intercourse in Scotland.
LGBT conservatism | Rise of LGBT conservatism
He was voted Entertainer of the Year in 2006 by Stonewall, and placed on the "Out 100" list for 2008, an annual list of notable LGBT people compiled by "Out" magazine. In June 2010, Barrowman met with then-Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister David Cameron as a representative of the LGBT community. Barrowman was one of 48 British celebrities who signed a public notice warning voters against Conservative Party policy towards the BBC prior to the 2010 general election. In the 2012 presidential election, Barrowman endorsed Democratic Party candidate Barack Obama, who was running for re-election. Barrowman publicly supported Scotland remaining in the United Kingdom in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, and was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to "The Guardian" opposing Scottish independence.
John Barrowman | Charity and activism
Currently they are campaigning against low pay for young workers, and are arguing for an £8 per hour minimum wage regardless of age. They have produced workers' rights cards to let young workers know what they are entitled to and how to get it. In November 2007, the SSY organised a protect in conjunction with the SSP LGBT Network against Stagecoach, after two young gay men were threatened with being thrown off a bus as one had their arm around the other.
Young Scottish Socialists | Campaigning
In 1987, Thatcher also declared that "hard left education authorities and extremist teachers" were indoctrinating the nation by teaching the younger generation "political slogans", "anti-racist mathematics" and telling their pupils that they have an "inalienable right to be gay", rather than "taught to respect traditional moral values". She then went on to say that "all of those children are being cheated of a sound start in life—yes cheated!" In 2003, despite opposition from socially liberal Conservatives such as later prime minister David Cameron, Section 28 was repealed by the Labour government under Tony Blair. In June 2009, Cameron, whilst campaigning for the 2010 general election, formally apologised for his party introducing the law, stating that it was a mistake and had been offensive to gay people.
LGBT rights opposition | United Kingdom
In 2014, the British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, wrote to the Commonwealth Secretary-General urging him to use his position to urge member states to live up to their responsibilities to promote the rights of their LGBT citizens. He later argued that Britain should must make defending the rights of gay and lesbian people a key plank of its relations with other Commonwealth countries.
LGBT rights in the Commonwealth of Nations | United Kingdom
In the lead up to the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, Thorpe campaigned for a 'yes' vote, encouraging people to enroll to vote at the City2Surf. He later appeared in a campaign advertisement with his partner saying that Thorpe could update his electoral details faster than his partner could swim 100 metres.
Ian Thorpe | Activism
Lord Mandelson, the most senior gay minister in the (then Labour) Government, added that the comment showed that the Conservative Party had not changed, that "when the camera is on they say one thing, but when the camera is off they say another". Conservative Party leader David Cameron was subsequently urged to "back or sack" Grayling, with gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell saying that "Cameron's silence is worrying. Many voters – gay and straight – will be disturbed by his failure to swiftly disown Grayling's support for homophobic discrimination. What does this say about the sincerity and seriousness of his commitment to gay equality?" Anastasia Beaumont-Bott, founder of LGBTory, a gay rights group which campaigns for the Conservatives, announced that she would be voting for Labour, not the Conservatives, in response to Grayling's comments.
Chris Grayling | Gay couples in B&Bs controversy
Members of the Liberal Gay Action Group campaigned wearing lapel badges with the words, "I've been kissed by Peter Tatchell" following the suggestion that he was attempting to hide his sexuality. One of Hughes' campaign leaflets claimed the election was "a straight choice" between Liberal and Labour. Hughes has since apologised for what may have been seen as an inadvertent slur and later came out as bisexual in 2006.
Peter Tatchell | Labour candidate for Bermondsey
Johnson has been a campaigner for gay, lesbian and transgender rights since high school and at university advocated for reform of the residence hall criteria, arguing that the current male/ female option was discriminatory and that insufficient attention was being given to issues like safe bathrooms for transgender students, who are often at high risk of assault in gender-specific zones. In 2009, Johnson taught a children's stories class for Tower Hamlets Council Children's Services as part of LGBT History month.
Clare Johnson | Activism
Halfon voted against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which permitted same-sex couples to marry, and much of the secondary legislation implementing the Act. However, he has since apologised for this, saying "I regret it and I would vote for equal marriage if it came before Parliament now". Halfon voted to extend same-sex marriage to residents of Northern Ireland on 9 July 2019.
Robert Halfon | LGBT rights
Gay rights campaigners, such as Peter Tatchell, called for a "dialogue" between the MCB and gay organisations. In April 2007, the MCB formally declared its support for the Equality Act, which outlaws discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. The journalist Brian Whitaker said: "the Muslim Council of Britain has begun to move towards accepting homosexuality".
Muslim Council of Britain | Homosexuality
He was re-elected in January 2013. He holds an honorary doctorate from Napier University in Edinburgh, awarded in July 2008. In April 2010, Cox, along with Ian McKellen and Eleanor Bron, appeared in a series of TV advertisements to support Age UK, the charity formed from the merger of Age Concern and Help the Aged. All three actors gave their time free of charge.
Brian Cox (actor) | Charity work
He is currently a Vice-President. As part of the campaign for anti-discrimination he initiated several debates in the Commons and took a leading role in the passage of the Government 1995 Act which created the platform for many advances subsequently achieved.
John Hannam | Disability Rights
He is openly gay and was formerly Deputy chairman (Political) of LGBTory, the Conservative LGBT Group. He is now a Patron of the group. In his maiden speech to the house, on 25 June 2010, he paid tribute to Alan Turing, and Gordon Brown's official apology for the state's persecution of Turing. He has spoken about how he was bullied at school for being gay and on the impact of homophobic bullying in schools. He was shortlisted for the Stonewall 'Politician of the Year' 2012.
Iain Stewart (politician) | Personal life
The Tory Campaign for Homosexual Equality (TORCHE) was a British LGBT conservative organization. In 1975, it was founded as the Conservative Group for Homosexual Equality (CGHE), also called GayCon, by Peter Walter Campbell. The Conservative Group for Homosexual Equality was a voluntary organization that lobbied the Conservative Party opinion in favour of gay rights and to provide a political balance within the gay rights movement. The group was revived in 1980, and a constitution drawn up and adopted on 28 March 1981, establishing an elected Executive Committee to oversee the running of the group. In 1991, the CGHE reconstituted at the Conservative Party Conference and renamed the Tory Campaign for Homosexual Equality.
Tory Campaign for Homosexual Equality | Introduction
The Homosexual Law Reform Society, founded on 12 May 1958, in response to the findings of the Wolfenden Report was one of the first LGBT groups in the UK. Nowadays, Stonewall exists as the largest LGBT equality organisation in the UK and Europe. LGBT people have been serving openly in politics since the 1970s. The first openly lesbian MP was Maureen Colquhoun (Labour Party, MP 1974–79), who was outed in 1976. Following the 2019 general election, an estimated 54 openly LGBT MPs were elected to Parliament, of whom 24 were Conservative, 19 Labour 10 SNP and Layla Moran from the Liberal Democrats, who became the first ever Pansexual MP.
LGBT rights in the United Kingdom | LGBT rights movement
McKenna performed at Labour Live, a music festival organised by the Labour Party, in June 2018. He voted for the Labour Party in the 2019 general election. In July 2020, he signed an open letter to the UK Equalities minister Liz Truss calling for a ban on all forms of LGBT+ conversion therapy.
Declan McKenna | Political views
I don't believe [a same-sex couple] is healthy for a child." The comments were condemned by Ben Summerskill, Chief Executive of Stonewall, as "inflammatory", while UKIP distanced itself from the comments. The "Croydon Advertiser" interview also described as "a bizarre rant" McKenzie's related comments about people who "pretend" to be gay: "Some people take on being gay as a sort of fashion. Celebrities come out to become more well known, it gets attention. It's a fact of life that some people actually are gay. They are what they are. They can't help it but the other bunch take on being gay as a fashion and push it because they have nothing better to do with their lives.
Winston McKenzie | 2011–12: London Mayoral, Assembly elections, Croydon North by-election
He also supported capital punishment for child killers and sexual abusers of children, but only if the victims were "pre-pubescent" and looked under the age of 18 (the age of consent in the UK is 16 years), saying that 13-year-olds were "fair game for the current punishment". Rees-Evans has said that he opposes same-sex marriage.
John Rees-Evans | Political career
In 2007, he voted against the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations, which for the first time imposed a general restriction on businesses discriminating against people on the grounds of sexual orientation. In May 2015, regarding a court ruling which found that a Belfast bakery had acted unlawfully in refusing to carry out an order for a cake in support of gay marriage, Farron said that "it's a shame it ended up in court" and "it's important that you stand up for people's rights to have their conscience," but "if you’re providing a service, that’s the key thing – you need to do so without prejudice, without discrimination against those who come through your door." He voted in favour of allowing marriage between two people of same sex at the second reading of the 2013 Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, but he voted not to timetable the debate on the Bill, which would have made it much more difficult to pass had the House of Commons agreed with his position, over concerns of the impact the "spousal veto" could have on trans people.
Tim Farron | LGBT rights
Supporting the 'Yes' campaign were campaigner and musician Billy Bragg; broadcaster and Labour peer Melvyn Bragg; campaigner and actress Joanna Lumley; Labour supporter and broadcaster Tony Robinson; designer and ethical fashion campaigner Amisha Ghadiali; Annette Lawson, chairwoman of the national alliance of women's organisations; and Simon Woolley, director and co-founder of Operation Black Vote. AV was also supported by Kevin Maguire, associate editor of the "Daily Mirror" newspaper, and journalist Polly Toynbee. Celebrities supporting a 'Yes' vote included comedian David Mitchell, comedian and actor Eddie Izzard, author Naomi Alderman, playwright Bonnie Greer, comedian Francesca Martinez, actress Helena Bonham Carter, Oscar award-winning actor Colin Firth, actor and Liberal Democrat supporter John Cleese, comedian Stephen Fry, actor Art Malik, John O'Farrell, actor Richard Wilson, editor and writer Rowan Davies, broadcaster Greg Dyke, co-founder of the Ministry of Sound James Palumbo, actor and comedian David Schneider, Kriss Akabusi, Chris Addison, Josie Long, Benjamin Zephaniah and Honor Blackman.
2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum | Campaigners and celebrities
Byrne responded at the time: "I have not, nor have I ever, done anything illegal and I am not a hypocrite in any way. My views on gay rights issues are well known. I am not married with four children or anything like that, so there is no suggestion of hypocrisy." His family and political career suffered as a result and he was not selected for candidacy in the 2007 general election following this incident. He was chosen to run for Fianna Fáil in the 2016 general election in the Wexford constituency, although he failed to win a seat.
Malcolm Byrne | Political career
He was absent for the vote for gay marriage on the third reading of the Bill. In 2014, he voted in favour of extending the right to same sex marriage to Armed Forces personnel outside the United Kingdom. He currently holds a 90.4% rating on the issue of same sex marriage according to the website Public Whip.
Tim Farron | LGBT rights
The Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) is a membership organisation in the United Kingdom with a stated aim from 1969 to promote legal and social equality for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in England and Wales, active in the mid 1970s when it became involved in controversy by campaigning for an age of consent of 12 and support of a pro-paedophile group, its membership was horrified at the association and significant numbers left.
Campaign for Homosexual Equality | Introduction
McDonald is openly gay and, on 19 May 2015, gathered with other LGBT SNP MPs, including his near-namesake Stuart McDonald, to campaign for a "Yes" vote in the Irish referendum on same-sex marriage, being held three days later. He is also an honorary associate of the National Secular Society.
Stewart McDonald (politician) | Personal life
In June 2009, David Cameron, Conservative Party Leader, formally apologised for his party introducing the law, stating that it was a mistake and offensive to gay people.
LGBT rights in the United Kingdom | Section 28
Initially, this appeared fruitful, with the Secretary referring homosexual reform to the Standing Advisory Committee on Human Rights for Northern Ireland. In 1976, the Committee recommended extending the 1967 reforms to Northern Ireland but warned that public support for the change in Northern Ireland was limited. In 1978, the British Government published a draft Order in Council to decriminalise homosexual conduct in Northern Ireland between men over 21 years of age, in line with the 1967 reforms in England and Wales. However, it failed without the support of any of the 12 Northern Ireland politicians in the Westminster Parliament and the open opposition expressed by the Democratic Unionist Party representatives.
LGBT rights in Northern Ireland | Campaigns for and against change
Through various interviews and charity campaigns, he has promoted safer sex and HIV screening, and anti-LGBT bullying initiatives. He has also spoken openly about his own struggles with depression, self harm, eating disorders and anxiety from age thirteen onwards. In 2017, Alexander presented a BBC Three documentary investigating the link between being gay and the development of mental health disorders where he opened up about his bulimia. In 2018, Alexander was part of Sport Relief's attempt to raise awareness of mental health alongside other celebrities Nadiya Hussain and Stephen Fry. Alexander describes himself as a "real left-winger" and said in 2016 that he "had a crush on" Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Olly Alexander | Advocacy, politics and personal life
McKenzie's election followed the death of David Cairns, who had represented the constituency since 2001. McKenzie made his maiden speech to the House of Commons on 11 July 2011, mainly focusing on employment, opportunity and population growth in his constituency. McKenzie was one of the few Labour MPs who initially voted against legalising gay marriage in the UK. However, on the third reading of the bill Mr McKenzie voted for gay marriage as he was satisfied protection for religious groups had been ironed out. He also did not support British involvement in airstrikes in Iraq on 26 September 2014, for which he was sacked as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Shadow Defence Secretary, Vernon Coaker.
Iain McKenzie | Parliament
McKellen reprised the role in BBC Radio 4's "Saturday Play" "Walter Now", broadcast on 12 January 2009, in which his character is revisited 26 years later as an old man, when the institution in which he used to live is closed and he is moved into a smaller, group home. Among the issues explored are the subjects of reproductive rights for people who have learning disabilities, and the right to self-determination in areas such as choosing one's own home and housemates.
Walter (1982 film) | Sequels
The case has become a cause celebre in the United Kingdom and has been discussed in commentaries by conservative columnist Peter Hitchens. Peter Tatchell, though better known for his campaigns in support of gay rights than for his work on general human rights and free speech, offered to testify on Hammond's behalf at the appeal, calling the case "an outrageous assault on civil liberties."
Harry Hammond | Social commentaries
Days before the May 2015 UK general election Stonewall apologised after being criticised for publishing an online campaign graphic which suggested that only the Labour Party substantially supported LGBT equality in its manifesto. Lib Dem Minister Stephen Williams had previously told PinkNews that: "I'm astounded by this grossly misleading graphic."
Stonewall (charity) | General Election 2015
The introduction of Section 28 served to galvanise the disparate British gay rights movement into action. The resulting protest saw the rise of now famous groups like Stonewall, started by, amongst other people, Ian McKellen and Michael Cashman, and OutRage!. "Schools Out" was formed in 1974 (as "The Gay Teachers Association") and campaigned against the act, as well as supporting teachers on how to counter homophobia in schools. Many other groups not directly associated with LGBT rights also wanted the legislation removed, such as Gingerbread (a charity for single mothers), the Family Planning Association and the Terrence Higgins Trust. Many in the labour movement and trade unions also opposed the legislation.
Section 28 | Political response
An advocate of LGBT rights since his days as a London councillor in the 1970s, Corbyn championed such causes as the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), civil partnerships and same-sex marriage, and support for the Equality Bill. He was the only Labour MP to vote in favour of a Liberal Democrat amendment to outlaw discrimination based on sexuality in 1998, before the ratification of the Equality Act 2006. Corbyn voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which ultimately legalised same-sex marriage in England and Wales. He has also threatened "economic and diplomatic consequences" on those countries not supporting LGBT rights.
Political positions of Jeremy Corbyn | LGBT issues
I think Stonewall has achieved so much for so many people – gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender – all of those people have been included in laws they helped to change." In October 2010, "The Sun" journalist Bill Leckie was nominated for the same award for his column on gay rugby player Gareth Thomas, in spite of being criticised in a Stonewall Scotland report in 2007 for his comments regarding a drag queen bingo night. Several trans campaigners made a direct comparison between the Leckie and Bindel nominations. A similar demonstration was planned for the awards ceremony, but was cancelled after Stonewall withdrew the nomination.
Stonewall (charity) | Transgender protests
Burns is openly gay and stated he needed "cast iron guarantees" that religious organisations will not be forced into conducting same-sex marriages before he voted for the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013. Burns voted in favour of the bill at its second reading, but did not vote at its third and final reading. A practising Roman Catholic, he has said he feels unable to take communion since Bishop Philip Egan, of the diocese in which Burns resides, stated that those politicians who voted for same-sex marriage, even with the caveats upon which Burns had insisted (i.e. "guarantees that ...
Conor Burns | Personal life
In 1987, as one of his many publicity stunts, Hardee stood for Parliament in the famous 1987 Greenwich by-election, as the "Rainbow Dream Ticket, Beer, Fags & Skittles Party" candidate, polling 174 votes. He stood again in the 1992 election in order to publicise his comedy club because the election rules allowed him a free mailshot to all registered voters in the constituency. Hardee regularly appeared in his own shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. The Greatest Show on Legs debuted there in 1982. Arguably his most infamous confirmed stunt there was in 1983 when, performing at The Circuit venue – a series of three adjoining tents in a construction site with a different show in each tent – he became annoyed by what he regarded as excessive noise emanating nightly from Eric Bogosian's neighbouring performance tent.
Malcolm Hardee | Acts and stunts
Moreover, the language used to describe the transgender community caused disputes both internally and externally. He openly referred to himself as "Islamophobe of the Year" in 2014, and advertised 'Brits for Trump' shirts that he said he had made in response to requests. Promoting himself as a "straight-talking" candidate, some of his tweets and social presence had been strongly condemned, including a derogatory comment following Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's miscarriage in 2014. Rival candidate Suzanne Evans criticised him as "far right", whilst Nigel Farage responded, calling her "poisonous". As the self-described "Farage-ist" candidate, his ideas on the party's future included introducing the position of party CEO so the party can be "run like an organisation".
November 2016 UK Independence Party leadership election | Campaign
In March 2019, Blackman was one of 21 MPs who voted against LGBT inclusive sex and relationship education in English schools.
Bob Blackman | Campaigns
The bill as a whole was given a second reading in the Lords by 290 votes to 247. Lord Longford then sought to reintroduce 21 as the minimum age in the Lords, but this was defeated by 176 votes to 113. An amendment by the Deputy Labour Leader in the House of Lords, Lord MacIntosh of Haringey, that would have equalised the age of consent to 16, was rejected by 245 votes to 71. In its decision of 1 July 1997, in the case of "Sutherland v. United Kingdom", the European Commission of Human Rights found that Articles 8 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights were violated by a discriminatory age of consent, on the ground that there was no objective and reasonable justification for maintaining a higher minimum age for male homosexual acts.
LGBT rights in the United Kingdom | Equal age of consent
In an interview on Ireland's "The Late Late Show" with Gay Byrne and Sinéad O'Connor in February 1989, Everett was challenged by O'Connor about his support for the Tory Party in the light of his homosexuality and the Conservative's Section 28 addition to the Local Government Act. Everett clarified that he was not a "full Tory", but that he had been appalled by the actions of Arthur Scargill, whom he saw as "inciting violence" and "rabble rousing" and who he thought looked like "Hitler reborn". He had consequently supported the actions of Margaret Thatcher in opposing Scargill. He said he would stand up for gay rights if he were asked providing "it was a jolly occasion", but he also felt that being in a minority and in the public eye, he could do more for gay rights by showing that he was funny and human rather than by marching in the streets.
Kenny Everett | Politics
In early 2015 Anne Rigney campaigned publicly for same-sex marriage equality in the lead up to the referendum on the question held in Ireland that year, writing a poem and creating a video which was published on YouTube and the VoteWithUs.org website. In July 2015 Rigney called for the Australian public to follow Ireland's lead and introduce equal marriage. The Daily Telegraph published an article by Rigney in October 2016 in which she appealed directly to Autralian parents to support their gay children and campaign for equal marriage, writing ""Talk to your politicians. Hold rallies. Write letters to papers. Do not stand idly by.
Anne Rigney | Activism
He has also raised questions over the future for Halesowen Abbey in Parliament. Morris generally voted against gay rights and against allowing marriage between two people of the same sex.
James Morris (British politician) | Parliamentary career
In 2011, a Delaney column in the Sunday Independent in which he argued that the gay rights movement is "overreaching" in seeking the "right to marry, to adopt children, and to intimidate opponents into silence," touched off a media flap. Those who criticised Delaney's column included actor Charlie Condou writing in The Guardian.
Eamon Delaney | Columnist
Quinn has spoken in favour of Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act, which allows religious schools to discriminate, and fire employees who don't match their ethos, which can be used to fire gay teachers in Catholic schools, with the Iona Institute recommending that it be kept. He is opposed to Ireland's Gender Recognition Act for transgender people. In 2010, he was opposed to legal recognition of same-sex in the form of civil partnerships. He campaigned unsuccessfully for a No vote in the 2015 same-sex marriage referendum In the course of the referendum campaign, Professor John A. Murphy, an Irish historian and former member of Seanad Éireann, wrote to "The Irish Times".
David Quinn (columnist) | LGBT rights
Health Minister Jim Wells was widely criticised after claiming children brought up in same-sex relationships were more likely to be abused or neglected; he was forced to resign shortly thereafter. Paisley's son Ian Paisley Jr stated he was "repulsed" by homosexuality. In 2008, Iris Robinson, the wife of then-First Minister Peter Robinson, recommended conversion therapy, and called homosexuality "disgusting, loathsome, nauseating, wicked, and vile." She also implied that homosexuality was worse than child abuse. As First Minister, her husband Peter Robinson defended the views of those who thought homosexuality should be illegal and stated that if homosexuality were recriminalised, he would expect people to obey the law.
LGBT rights in Northern Ireland | Democratic Unionist Party
As an activist for LGBT rights, Fottrell advocated for marriage equality in a series of columns for Irish newspapers in the run-up to the Irish civil partnership and marriage equality campaigns. In 2007, he wrote, "Gay marriage doesn't damage children. But not allowing it does. It fosters a culture of prejudice, and infects the aspirations of gay children." Fottrell also wrote about homophobia in rural Ireland and the struggles of gay people to live openly and free of prejudice in small towns. Fottrell organized a "Vote Yes for Equality" campaign in New York in the weeks leading up to the marriage equality referendum in Ireland in May 2015.
Quentin Fottrell | LGBT writer and activist
McKay was a strong supporter of LGBT rights in the Assembly. He spoke in debates to extend marriage to same sex couples between 2012 and 2016 and jointly tabled a number of the motions put to the Assembly. In April 2014 speaking to a motion that he tabled along with 5 other members he said that ""Homophobia is fuelling the political representation in much of the debate here today. This is about gay people being treated as less than everyone else. Gay men and women are deserving of the same rights that I have and of the same rights that you have.
Daithí McKay | Campaign for equal marriage
Barrowman worked with Stonewall, a gay rights organisation in the UK, on the "Education for All" campaign against homophobia in schools. In April 2008, the group placed posters on 600 billboards that read, "Some people are gay. Get over it!" Barrowman contributed his support to the project asking people to join him: "Help exterminate homophobia. Be bold. Be brave. Be a buddy, not a bully." That same month, Barrowman spoke at the Oxford Union about his career, the entertainment industry, and gay rights issues. The event was filmed for the BBC programme "The Making of Me", in an episode exploring the science of homosexuality.
John Barrowman | Charity and activism
United Response’s most recent major campaign is Every Vote Counts, which aims to make politics and voting accessible to people with learning disabilities. Currently, at least half a million people with learning disabilities in the UK have the right to vote but don't use it, due to low awareness of their rights and the complexity of the political system. Since 2010, the charity has been working with people with learning disabilities and politicians to change this by publishing easy read guides to voting, urging all political parties to communicate more accessibly, and campaigning publicly for greater awareness of the fact that most people with learning disabilities are entitled and have the mental capacity to vote.
United Response | Every Vote Counts
In March 2007 he voted against the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 which proposed to allow the Secretary of State to make regulations defining discrimination and harassment on grounds of sexual orientation, create criminal offences, and provide for exceptions. He also complained, while calling for a Parliamentary debate on "political correctness", about a school production of "Romeo and Julian" during LGBT History month. Commons Leader Harriet Harman described his remarks as "cheap shots". He was called a "troglodyte" in 2009 by the Conservative MP John Bercow for his opposition to debating the Equality Bill, the effect of the recession on women and International Women's Day.
Philip Davies | Gender and sexuality issues
The ensuing electoral campaign in the seat proved to be a difficult one with heated exchanges between Galloway, Oona King (the incumbent Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow), and their respective supporters. Galloway and Respect threatened to sue King, whose mother is Jewish, if she repeated her assertion in the "Evening Standard" on 10 April 2005 which reported her as saying: "I have been told by several people that members of Respect have told Muslim voters "not to vote for me because I am Jewish"". Galloway was asked at a hustings early in the campaign why he was standing against one of only two Black female MPs to which he replied that King had "voted to kill a lot of women in the last few years.
George Galloway | Election campaign
With Animal Rights Cambridge Joan organised many campaigns against animal abuse. In the mid 1990s, as well as attending protests in Dover and Brightlingsea against the live export of animals to Europe, she staged a hunger strike outside the Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries against the trade. Campaigning moved to anti-vivisection after this, with ARC joining the campaign to close down Hillgrove Farm, which bred cats for animal research. Hillgrove eventually went out of business and campaigners stepped up efforts against Huntingdon Life Sciences, forming Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty and setting up a protest camp. When Hilda died in 1997, some of her ashes were scattered at HLS.
Joan Court | Campaigns and protests
In 1972 Dunn helped to launch "Gay News," Britain's first gay newspaper.
Ian Dunn (activist) | Gay rights activism
In August 2014, Daley was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to "The Guardian" opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue. In a statement made on the eve of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018, Daley called on Commonwealth countries to repeal their anti-gay laws. In response, the-then UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told BBC Radio 1's "Newsbeat" that he would raise concerns about gay rights with leaders of countries where homosexuality is illegal. There have been repeated calls from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for governments to safeguard the rights of their vulnerable LGBT minorities.
Tom Daley | Views
For the past 20 years, Carr has been a disability rights campaigner in the UK and has spoken at many rallies. In May 2008 she joined with ADAPT, a prominent disability rights group in the United States, to raise money for ADAPT and to protest against presidential candidate John McCain's refusal to support the right of people with disabilities to live in their own homes. In 2011, Carr was part of a "Newsnight" debate on assisted suicide, following the screening on the BBC of "", which included Jeremy Paxman and David Aaronovitch. She opposed Lord Faulkner's Assisted Dying Bill, stating: "I fear we’ve so devalued certain groups of people – ill people, disabled people, older people – that I don’t think it’s in their best interests to enshrine in law the right of doctors to kill certain people."
Liz Carr | Activism
He made a strong speech in support of the Bill, which lowered the voting age for women from 30 to 21 (the same age as men at the time), and which was blamed in part for the Conservatives' unexpected electoral defeat the following year, which the right of the party attributed to newly enfranchised young women (referred to derogatorily as "flappers") voting for the opposition Labour party.
William Joynson-Hicks, 1st Viscount Brentford | Votes for young women
Griffin is an active campaigner on issues relating to employment rights, women's rights, children's rights, disabled persons' rights, LGBTI rights, xenophobia and health. Griffin has a particular interest in campaigning for more EU funding in global health research to aid the eradication of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria.
Theresa Griffin | Campaigns
Gregson also volunteers with the Peter Tatchell Foundation and the Quilliam (think tank) to promote equality and tackle extremism and hate crimes in society. Gregson works locally and nationally to raise the plight of carers having been a registered carer for his parents since 2018. This included raising the issue of sleep-in pay for carers with the then Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Social Care, Barbara Keeley MP, in December 2018.
Dave Gregson | Charity and Campaigning Work
The Charity Commission again found no grounds to make an exception for Catholic Care, a decision upheld on appeal. In August 2011, the Upper Tribunal agreed to hear the charity's fourth appeal in the case. In November 2012, the appeal was dismissed by the Upper Tribunal, with the Tribunal ruling in favour of the Charity Commission. Catholic Care stated its intention to appeal the judgement.
LGBT rights in the United Kingdom | Discrimination protections
The campaign was founded by John and Laura Midgley in 2004. It increased its appeal by appearing on television programmes such as ITV's "This Morning". In 2005, John Midgley claimed that the Campaign had 5,000 supporters, including both those who had joined and those who had donated money or signed its petition. The campaign had the political support of MP Philip Davies and his father, controversial and short-tenured Mayor of Doncaster, Peter Davies who ended up being disciplined by the council for breaching its code of conduct by failing to declare his membership of the group.
Campaign Against Political Correctness | Aims
Tatchell describes the Muslim Council of Britain as "anti-gay", asking how can "they expect to win respect for their community, if at the same time as demanding action against Islamophobia, they themselves demand the legal enforcement of homophobia?". He noted that the MCB had joined forces with the "rightwing Christian Institute" to oppose every gay law reform from 1997 to 2006. In January 2006, the MCB Chairman Iqbal Sacranie said that homosexuals are immoral, harmful and diseased on BBC Radio 4. Tatchell argued that "Both the Muslim and gay communities suffer prejudice and discrimination. We should stand together to fight Islamophobia and homophobia".
Peter Tatchell | Muslim Council of Britain
To mark the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of sexual activity between men in England and Wales, the National Trust in summer 2017 organised a "Prejudice and Pride" campaign highlighting the LGBT themes in its properties. At Felbrigg Hall, a short film narrated by Stephen Fry stated that Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer had been widely known to be homosexual, though others claimed that this was only known by his close friends. Two of Ketton-Cremer's godchildren criticised the decision, claiming that a public outing would have been against Ketton-Cremer's wishes and accusing the Trust of using their godfather to generate publicity. The Trust also requested that volunteers wear a badge featuring the charity's logo atop the colours of the LGBT pride flag.
Felbrigg Hall | National Trust controversy
The following October he expressed the view that the 2017 UKIP leadership election had been rigged against anti-Islam activist Anne Marie Waters.
Morrissey | Race and support for far-right politicians
In 1989, McIlroy, along with Nicolas Walter, reformed The Committee Against Blasphemy Law to protest the threat to Salman Rushdie over Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses". The committee issued a new "Statement Against Blasphemy Law", signed by more than 200 public figures. McIlroy was the keynote speaker at the inaugural meeting of the Gay Humanist Group, which became the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association.
William McIlroy (secularist) | Campaigning activities
In 2012, he travelled with UNICEF immunization workers to remote parts of India, Nepal and the Republic of Congo for a BBC2 documentary entitled "Ewan McGregor: Cold Chain Mission". In June 2015, McGregor read Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Match Girl" for the children's fairytales app GivingTales in aid of UNICEF, together with other prominent figures such as Roger Moore, Stephen Fry, Joan Collins, Joanna Lumley, and Michael Caine. McGregor has voiced his opposition to Brexit. Although opposed to Scottish independence from the United Kingdom in the 2014 Scottish referendum, he later declared during an interview that he would have voted for Scotland to leave the United Kingdom if he had been able to cast his vote the day after the United Kingdom left the European Union.
Ewan McGregor | Personal life
In the 2010 General Election, Crawford stood as a candidate for the Equal Parenting Alliance Party in the 2010 in the Oxford East constituency. Prior to election day Crawford put a half-page advert in the Oxford Mail which read ‘Now for Something Completely Different - Don’t Vote for Me (if you want a Politician)’. He polled 73 votes.
Roger Crawford (activist) | Political activity
He sits on the Labour benches in the House of Lords. The BBC summarised his appointment as "the antithesis of the stereotypical 'establishment' peer – young, Asian and from the world of media and entertainment". Alli has used his political position to argue for gay rights. He spearheaded the campaign to repeal Section 28. He advocated lowering the age of consent for homosexuals from 18 to 16, equal to heterosexuals; this eventually became law as the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000. It was during a heated exchange with conservative opponents, led by Baroness Young, that he informed his fellow peers that he was gay.
Waheed Alli, Baron Alli | Politics
Regarding his stance opposing gay Republican political candidates, he said that political opponents in the media distorted his views; while he affirmed that it was "everybody's right" to run for office, he reiterated his opposition to funding the campaigns of candidates who support same-sex marriage.
Scott Garrett | LGBT rights
McDonald is an active supporter of gay rights. She was an ambassador for Europride 2016 and her single "I Need A Miracle was chosen as the official anthem. McDonald said "Equal rights for me is such an important issue, I believe anything less than equality is an insult! It's unjust to give a selected few preferential treatment, we are all human after all! Everybody deserves to be treated fairly, equally. This is an issue I will spend my life campaigning for, until the laws are changed to protect and implement this and for all the countries around the world to unite and have the same global vision for equality." In an interview with Maxazine magazine for the Netherlands, McDonald said "Forget about the label, it's about the person".
Tara McDonald | Activism