Respect cuts both ways

Protest outside Bushmills sports hall

The respect of other people’s culture here in Northern Ireland needs a lot of work. It should cut to each community within the diversity that we have within our wee country, but it is hard enough when the biggest two groupings fail to show mutual respect for each other.

Yesterday we saw an example of the problems caused by both. We had a protest against the Republican Chairman of Moyle District Council opening a sports halls for all the community, because of comments he allegedly made about a flute band at the Twelfth of July marches. We also had a future DUP minister saying that GAA Clubs shouldn’t be allowed to collect funds by packing customers bags at supermarkets.

A GAA Club packing bags

While we still have elected representatives who aren’t mindful of their language when talking about the diversity on our communities how can we expect the people to show respect. We have a diversity and the sooner our elected representatives embrace that we do the better. Now I don’t expect them to agree with everything, nor do I expect that those who see them at every sort of event would expect it, but at least you’d expect them to honour the differnces.

As for the music of our different cultures (often the same tunes divied my different lyrics) maybe we should take a leaf out of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann‘s book in Cavan the other week. Then there was an attempt to fuse the diversities together and it was appreciated. Of course there will be occasions that is not possible but we need to find things that can be done together. When it comes to collection of funds from bag packing, when I was working for the Yes! campaign I often saw Association Football Clubs from the Sandy Row collecting by bag packing at the Tesco on the Dublin Road. Not hte sort of location you’d expect to find GAA clubs fundraising, unlike Mr Well’s South Down constintuency maybe, but it is not exclusive to one side or the other.

Time for us to truly look for a shared future and learn to appreciate the differences

support for ‘unite sporting weekend’ 15-17 october

Ongoing support against hate crime

I am delighted that the IFA, GAA, and Belfast Giants are continuing to support the Unite against Hate campaign with the next Unite Sporting Weekend taking place this weekend coming.

As Vice Chair of the LGBT Independent Advisory Group to the PSNI, I appreciate the work that the PSNI put in to this cause. Combating hate crime in our country and throughout the world is an important work. I know that many will support this campaign. I hope that they will wear the campaign bracelet that is available as a visible sign of uniting against hate.

The UNITE AGAINST HATE embraces the Northern Ireland Government’s vision for the future of Northern Ireland as:

“A peaceful, inclusive, prosperous, stable and fair society firmly founded on the achievement of reconciliation, tolerance, and mutual trust and the protection and vindication of human rights for all”.

UNITE AGAINST HATE objectives:

1. To inspire and to unite. Change to a more tolerant and peaceful Northern Ireland is both desirable and possible. We need to have the optimism, hope and confidence that we can work together to bring it about
2. To sensitise general public to the problem of hate crime and its real costs. Hate crime destroys the lives of all of us through the damage it does to the quality of life, our reputation and our economy.
3. To create a climate of zero tolerance for hate crime and discrimination. Hate crime is violent and wrong; it will not be tolerated. There is no room in Northern Ireland for sectarian, racist, homophobic, transphobic, religious or disability related hate crime. This will continue to be vigorously implemented through the promotion of equality and the enforcement of rights.
4. To promote diversity. Living with diversity is an integral part of modern life and we all need to take responsibility for creating an atmosphere where diversity is accepted as normal. We need to recognise benefits of diversity.

I urge everyone attending any sporting events over the weekend to look out for the Unite against Hate campaign, if you want to get involved you can visit its website by clicking on the logo to the right.

Tom Elliott and the UUP need to grow up

So it seems that we are not going to see the leader of the Ulster Unionists in next year’s Belfast Pride march. As reported by Pink News, Tom Elliott MLA recently said that

I have indicated at party meetings that whilst some members of our party would go to gay pride marches or GAA matches, I wouldn’t go.

Personally, I am not surprised at the UUP’s decision to vote in Mr Elliott as party leader. Basil McCrea his opponent has been very good at attending Belfast Pride in recent years, particularly with his colleague John McCallister.

It is clear that the members of the Ulster Unionist Council want to try and position their party a lot further to the right than that of a party that seemed to be acknowledging its LGBT support and constituents.

The times have changed – but no one seems to have listened or watched in the UUP. It is time for real politics in Northern Ireland. We have moved away from the dead politics where if it looked like a member of the UUP it got elected. This year not one of their candidates was elected. Not even the previous party leader, Sir Reg Empey (even after he was parachuted into South Antrim).

The team up with the Conservatives seemed to be a complete flop. Is Mr Elliott’s election as party leader just another nail in the coffin of the UUP. With comments like he has made, it would seem so.

Alternatively, he and they need to grow up and realise that they have to represent their constituents, speak to them, maybe even go to places that they don’t find comfortable to do so.

Speaking in the Waterfront Hall, Tom Elliott last night said

The Ulster Unionist Party has a tradition of honest, hard working politics putting the interests of Northern Ireland first.

My challenge to him, is when will we see them starting to ensure that they work for the interests of all the people including those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans, to say nothing of those who support Gaelic games.