Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1998 22:49:49 +0100 Subject: Tatchell stands trial over Easter Sunday Cathedral protest From: OW-jgh Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will stand trial at Canterbury Magistrate's Court on Monday, 12th October 1998, at 10:00 a.m.. OutRage! is appealing for donations to the legal defence fund. Tatchell is being tried on a charge of "indecent behaviour" in a church, contrary to Section 2 of the Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860, (formerly part of the Brawling Act 1551). His defence will be "the right to free speech and peaceful protest". There are believed to have been only three prosecutions for protest under this Act in the past 138 years. The Court has already indicated that it is considering sentencing Tatchell to a term of imprisonment. Tatchell's trial arises from his involvement in OutRage!'s Easter Sunday protest in Canterbury Cathedral, when he interrupted the sermon of the Archbishop of Canterbury, condemning Dr. Carey's support. for discrimination against lesbian and gay people with regard to employment, the age of consent, fostering, and marriage. The prosecution claim that any form of protest in a church --no matter how peaceful and dignified-- is "indecent" under the terms of the Act. No Cathedral clergy or administrators are appearing as prosecution witnesses. None are supporting the charge of indecency. At an earlier Magistrate's Court hearing on 12th June, Tatchell was refused permission to summons Dr. Carey as a witness, despite satisfying all the legal requirements. The Court declined to give a reason for its refusal. At the same hearing --again without explanation-- the Court refused Tatchell access to unused prosecution evidence which the prosecutor has admitted may undermine the case against Tatchell and could help his defence. Tatchell is calling for the repeal of the statute under which he is charged, arguing that "it gives the Church privileged immunity from public protest and dissent". "The right to free speech does not stop at the door of a Cathedral. Under this ancient law, the Church has privileged protection against protest. No other institution is granted these special, sweeping powers to suppress dissent. It should not be a crime to criticise the Archbishop of Canterbury in his Cathedral", said Tatchell. "What is at stake in this trial in the precious, hard-won freedom to demonstrate. If the prosecution win, it will be a defeat for civil liberties and a victory for authoritarianism. "The restrictions on tbe right to protest under the Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act are incompatible with. a democratic society and should be repealed", said Mr. Tatchell. ======================================= *** DEFENCE FUND APPEAL ***       OutRage! is appealing for contributions to the Peter Tatchell Defence Fund.       "We need financial help to fight this prosecution", said David Allison of OutRage!. "Peter's case is an important test of civil liberties. We must defend the right to peaceful protest and resist this attempt to stifle freedom of speech". Cheques should be made payable to "OutRage!" and sent to: OutRage!, P.O. Box 17816, London. SW14 8WT ======================================= A copy of this press release, with links, is at: http://www.OutRage.cygnet.co.uk/cant98a.htm -- You may leave this list automatically by sending a message to list-processor@diversity.org.uk, containing a line that says unsubscribe outrage-world The 'lists' command will give information about other services