Chit Chat
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14 Feb 16
19:01
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02 Jul 08
The emails from the officer of the National Union of Students were unequivocal. Fran Cowling, the union’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender aka LGBT™ representative, said that she would not share a stage with a man whom she regarded as having been racist and “transphobic”.
That the man in question is Peter Tatchell is perhaps a mark of how fractured the debate on free speech and sexual politics has become.
In the emails, sent to the organisers of a talk at Canterbury Christ Church University on Monday on the topic of “re-radicalising ****s”, Cowling refuses an invitation to speak unless Tatchell, who has also been invited, does not attend. In the emails she cites Tatchell’s signing of an open letter in the Observer last year in support of free speech and against the growing trend of universities to “no-platform” people, such as Germaine Greer, for holding views with which they disagree.
Cowling claims the letter supports the incitement of violence against transgender people. She also made an allegation against him of racism or of using racist language. Tatchell told the Observer that the incident was yet another example of “a witch-hunting, accusatory atmosphere” symptomatic of a decline in “open debate on some university campuses”.
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http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/feb/13/peter-tatchell-snubbed-students-free-speech-veteran-gay-rights-activist
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That the man in question is Peter Tatchell is perhaps a mark of how fractured the debate on free speech and sexual politics has become.
In the emails, sent to the organisers of a talk at Canterbury Christ Church University on Monday on the topic of “re-radicalising ****s”, Cowling refuses an invitation to speak unless Tatchell, who has also been invited, does not attend. In the emails she cites Tatchell’s signing of an open letter in the Observer last year in support of free speech and against the growing trend of universities to “no-platform” people, such as Germaine Greer, for holding views with which they disagree.
Cowling claims the letter supports the incitement of violence against transgender people. She also made an allegation against him of racism or of using racist language. Tatchell told the Observer that the incident was yet another example of “a witch-hunting, accusatory atmosphere” symptomatic of a decline in “open debate on some university campuses”.
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http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/feb/13/peter-tatchell-snubbed-students-free-speech-veteran-gay-rights-activist
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Replies: 23
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Always liked Tatchell, he`s a good un, and brave.
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The problem with Tatchell is that he has belatedly come to realise that he was one of the people responsible for opening this pandora's box and is now furiously trying to close it. Too late sucker. You will also get burned. Delicious irony.
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nah Tatchell has been pretty consistent i'd say in terms of free speech ,debate
These 'no platform' loons are something else |
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He and Mandellson were the major force behind the lowering of the age of consent of homosexuals from 18 to 16.
Bravely Championed the human rights of young gay men to be treated the same as heterosexuals, and had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that old queens like a bit of fresh meat without having to worry about being arrested for unlawful sex with a minor. Steven K Amos for one will be forever indebted to him. |
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And Stephen Fry.
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I thought he was a poof?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PfDro1UGUo
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^ Aussie immigration policy, btw.
Something we Brits could learn from! |
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Don't forget about Bruce!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f_p0CgPeyA |
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& whoever could forget The Philosopher's Song from the Hollywood Bowl?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtgKkifJ0Pw |
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It was fine for Tatchell when he was the one being outrageous and getting all the media attention. Now he has realised the barriers will always be getting pushed further out and what he has helped to create is not comfortable for him !
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It's even more basic than that treetop. Tatchell has suddenly discovered the merits of Conservatism. He has been a lifelong socialist but he now knows which side his bread is buttered. Conservatives being conservatives and having adapted will protect him from being flung off a mountain. Socialists being socialists have to plough new furrows and at the moment are ploughing the throw the homosexuals off a mountain furrow. Et voila. Suddenly Tatchell prefers the devil he knows. Quelle surprise.
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Tatchell/Thatcher easy error
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For who Capitaine?
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any desperate Tory EO
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He and Mandellson were the major force behind the lowering of the age of consent of homosexuals from 18 to 16.
Bravely Championed the human rights of young gay men to be treated the same as heterosexuals tbf what was the point in having a different age ? |
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You will never get the better of the professionally offended.
Best ignore them and let them yammer into the void. The rest of us can get on with wrestling with information from all parts of the spectrum and come to our own conclusions. |
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There were several points at the time tobermory. One was to give young people time to decide on quite a big decision. Another was that it was perceived as something which wasn't in societies interest to encourage homosexuality, a view which had been prevalent throughout most of our history. It was also feared that older predatory homosexuals would target younger and younger vulnerable people. Lets not forget the strong movement at the time within the homosexual community seeking to have the age of consent lowered even further.
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latest instalment - Tatchell writes for the Telegraph
The intolerant student Left has even turned on me – a lifelong civil rights campaigner . http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/12158352/The-intolerant-student-Left-has-even-turned-on-me-a-lifelong-civil-rights-campaigner.html |
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When you've got over 2 million students and staff in "universities", most of them getting degrees in Management or Media Studies, then it's fair to say about 1,900,000 of them won't even hear of John Stuart Mill, never mind be required to read his views on freedom of speech.
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Hot on the heels of the no platforming of Peter Tatchell by right-on students, a group of NUS activists have decided to go one better and bar Hope Not Hate coordinator Nick Lowles from speaking at an event.
Lowles, an anti-racism campaigner, was apparently too racist for the students, who have accused him of Islamophobia.  . http://imgur.com/K4jS1ya |
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hilarious about time HNH got some of their own treatment
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Look what happens when you open the box.
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