We welcome readers' letters on any topic. Letters over 400 words may be cut for space reasons. Write to Socialist Outlook, PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU. email: [email protected] MARK LEWIN'S article on the anti-gay Section 28 of the 1990 Local Goverment Act (January 1999) rightly notes that: the repeat of the Section seems to have fallen off the agenda of some London based "campaigning" organisations. Had he used his web-browser to look a bit further than London he would have found a different story.
Campaigning HIV voluntary organisations such as George House Trust in the North West, or the Aled Richards Trust in Bristol have never forgotten that Section 28 exists and have continued to campaign for its immediate repeal.
Section 28 theoretically outlaws the 'promotion of homosexuality' by local authorities. But one of its worst effects has been to frighten schools from offering sex-education for lesbians and gay men. Is it any wonder that HIV infections amongst young gay men continue to rise if sex-education is denied. Section 28 is costing lives. * Surveys of MPs (by George House Trust and Stonewall) show there is no significant support in the House for maintaining this law. A one line Bill could scrap it.
It is not acceptable for the massive majority new-Labour Government to use any excuse, including that of an un-elected House of Lords, to mean that legalised discrimination contin.. ues and the desperately needed sex education remains missing for another year.
For further details of the cạmpaign against Section 28 contact George House Trust. (www.georgehousetrust.org.uk) Text of an open letter from GHT, ART and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on AIDS can also be found here.
Tim Pickstone, George House Trust