Memorandum submitted by Robin Ware (CJ&I 14)

I do not understand why homosexuality is to be included in an amendment to extend the offence of incitement to racial hatred to cover hatred against persons on the basis of their sexuality. Surely homosexuals are protected against persecution under existing law and therefore do not need extra protection, or are they persecuted in a different way from down and outs or diddakoi or other minority groups? If so where is the evidence for this? There is also a threat to freedom of speech for Muslims and others who believe homosexual acts to be sinful. Will the law be able to distinguish between incitement to hatred and condemnation of homosexual acts, or will these two things be seen as the same thing? It seems to me that the

homosexual lobby is pushing for laws that are unnecessary, and also pose a threat to freedom of speech so that a homosexual will be able to condemn others for saying their sexual behaviour is wrong, on the grounds that it is incitement to hatred, but the other side will not be afforded the same freedom. Please throw out this illogical and unnecessary amendment.

October 2007