Published: 24 April 2012
Region: UK & Worldwide
By Pedja Urosevic
The tension between Christians opposed to homosexuality and the gay community resurfaced recently in a row over advertising on London buses. The Core Issues Trust, a Christian group that encourages gay people to go straight was accused of openly promoting the idea of therapy as a “cure” for homosexuality with the message ‘Not gay! Post-gay, ex-gay and proud. Get over it!’.
The posters aimed to counter the campaign from the gay rights group Stonewall promoting marriage rights for gay people which has seen 1,000 London buses adorned with the message ‘Some people are gay. Get over it!’ since April 1.
The Core Issues Trust attempt to pounce on the “get over it” pun to promote their own campaign was quickly neutralised and the posters were banned, but the incident once again highlights the difficulty in balancing free expression rights and the rights of the gay people not to suffer discrimination.
Freedom of expression is important, if not fundamental, to any notion of democracy, but it is subject to legitimate restriction when it leads to incitement to hatred or unfair discrimination against minorities or marginalised communities.
The Core Issues Trust promotes their work, based on, as they say, ‘Christian principles’. On their website they say: ‘CORE is a non-profit Christian initiative seeking to support men and women with homosexual issues who voluntarily seek change in sexual preference and expression. It respects the rights of individuals who identify as ‘gay’ who do not seek change.’
For more information on ‘scientific approach’ by Core Issues Trust click here.
In response to the banning of their advertisement reported by the BBC, Core Issues co-director Mike Davidson said:
‘We went through the correct channels and we were encouraged by the bus company to go through their procedures. Our concern is that the debate has been shut down. I think it is very important to raise the fact there are people in this country who want to live beyond gay, they have experienced gayness, and have set themselves other goals.’
The problem is that anti-gay sentiment expressed is often driven by bigotry and fear. Within some political and religious circles the opposition is positively dangerous. In many countries gay people suffer violence even death where laws, often promoted by religious leaders, ban homosexuality.
In Britain, which prides itself as being one of Europe’s most tolerant democracies, gay people still suffer from acts of violence and open hostility. Mike Davidson’s failure to put the free speech debate in this context illustrates perfectly why advertising that support/promote changing sexual preferences of any kind should be banned.
As if to prove the lack of rational thinking by Mike Davidson and others along comes another proposal for an adverting campaign. This time for another group: HARD CORE.
Its message is: ‘HARD CORE is a non-profit & non-Christian initiative seeking to support straight men and women who voluntarily seek change in sexual preference and expression. It respects the rights of individuals who identify themselves as ‘straight’ who do not seek change.’
Nonsense, of course, but it illustrates well how we need to appreciate the context in which we debate these sensitive issues. What seems reasonable and fair comment on one side can be uncomfortable and threatening when seen from another perspective.
