Date: Fri, 08 May 1998 08:08:52 +0100
From: jgh <jgh@intonet.co.uk>
Subject: Crime+Disorder Bill / YouthSpeak / BBC R4

1)	Amendment to U.K. Crime & Disorder Bill
2)	YouthSpeak:  Section 28 Petition -- Correction
3)	BBC Radio 4:  Evolution of Gay Rights Movement

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        *** OUTRAGE! SEEKS TO PROTECT ***
        *** SEXUAL AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES ***

        *** Proposed Amendment to the Crime & Disorder Bill ***

      OutRage! is proposing an amendment to the Crime & Disorder Bill
that would extend the tough new penalties for race hate crimes
to crimes of prejudice against homosexuals and religious believers. 

      The amendment, to Section 68 of the Bill, will be tabled by MP's
in the Committee stage, with cross-party support. 

      Sections 22-26 and 68 of the Bill empower the courts to impose
harsher sentences on those convicted of crimes against ethnic minorities,
where there is evidence that the crime was motivated by race hatred. 

      The OutRage! amendment, drafted by Peter Tatchell, would also
introduce tougher sentences in cases of hate-inspired attacks
on people because of their homosexuality or religion. 

      We believe that all hate crimes should be treated with equal severity.

      As well as cracking down on racial violence, the law also needs to
come down heavily on the perpetrators of prejudice-motivated assaults
on religious and sexual minorities. 

      Whilst OutRage! is opposing crimes of prejudice against people of
faith, religious supporters in the House of Lords recently succeeded in
amending the Human Rights Bill to exempt religious institutions from the
Bill's anti-discrimination provisions. This will allow religious authorities
to continue to discriminate against lesbians and gay men. 

      We argue that ALL forms of prejudice are wrong, but religious leaders
insist that denying equal treatment to gay people is right. 

      Despite Christian, Muslim and Jewish opposition to homosexual
human-rights,
OutRage! will continue to support equality for people of all faiths and
sexualities.

        http://www.OutRage.cygnet.co.uk/CrimeDis.htm

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	Chris Morris of YouthSpeak (0181-354 2592 / www.youthspeak.org.uk)
has issued the following correction to the previous announcement
concerning their petition for the repeal of Section 28. --

	"We are NOT holding a demonstration.
There will be a photo opportunity before going to Downing Street,
but there will be no mass gathering.  The photo opportunity
is only for YouthSpeak members and people involved in our campaign."

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	The first part of Nigel Wrench's two part series
on the evolution of the gay rights movement
will be repeated on BBC Radio 4 (FM only) at 8 p.m., Sunday, 10th May.

	It starts with the debate generated by the Oscar Wilde trials,
but focuses on the sixties, featuring some of those who fought for gay 
rights and others who wanted male homosexuality to remain a crime.

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