Alan Turing & Peter Tatchell: pic by Peter Birkinshaw

Peter Tatchell, the best known gay rights campaigner in Europe, says:

What remains to be done to secure LGBT rights in Britain? PLENTY. We’ve made great progress. Bravo! But there are still battles to be fought & won. I outline some of the “unfinished business”.

However, unresolved issues still remain:

• the ban on same-sex marriage,
• religious exemptions from the equality laws,
• homophobic bullying in schools,
• inadequate sex and relationship education for LGBT kids,
• the 12 month blood ban,
• high rates of mental ill-health and HIV,
• recreational drug and alcohol abuse,
• the refusal of asylum to LGBT refugees and,
• sometimes, the failure of police and prosecutors to tackle anti-LGBT hate crimes (especially when race and religion are involved).

That list holds true for Australian gay rights, too. Tatchell’s full speech is below: set aside 55 minutes of your time very well spent with this Melbourne lad made good. Good to be reminded what it used to be like.