Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell defends NUS LGBT Officer Fran Cowling’s “right not to share a platform” with him and warns she should not be “bullied”.
LGBT rights campaigner Peter Tatchell today defended the right of NUS LGBT Officer, Fran Cowling – who earlier this week branded him “transphobic” and racist and boycotted an event at which he was due to speak – to refuse to share a debate platform with him and warned that she should not be “harassed” “hounded” or “bullied” for her actions.
Cowling had come in for fierce criticism from all quarters, for her refusal to attend an event at which Tatchell was also due to appear unless he was removed from the running order, widely regarded as an attempt to ‘No-Platform’ him.
Tatchell used an appearance on Sam Delaney’s News Thing on RTUK to clarify his stance on free speech, boycotts and ‘No Platforming’, stating that while he opposed the practice of denying someone’s right to free speech on the basis of a difference of opinion, he supported Ms Cowling’s right not to debate him.
Thatchell said: “I defend Fran’s right not to share a platform with me. She has a right to say no, and I entirely respect that…I think it would have been much better for her to join me in a debate, so her point of view could be heard. And whether people agree with her or not, it’s good she has a right and an opportunity to make her view knowns”
Tatchell did, however, defend the practice of ‘No Platforming’ when it comes to people who incite hatred and violence, adding: “I make a distinction between people who are bigoted and those who incite…encourage or endorse violence. So, it’s true that I sought to cancel the concerts of eight Jamaican reggae and dance hall singers (with the support of Jamaican LGBT campaigners) because they were encouraging the killing of gay and lesbian people. I also, yes, did seek to ban, or get stopped from speaking, various Islamist preachers who’ve also endorsed Sharia executions of Muslims who have turned away from their faith, of people who have blasphemed Islam, of adulterers and of gay people.”
Tatchell underlined his commitment to free speech by revealing that he would share a debate platform with the boxer Manny Pacquiao – who has received widespread criticism this week after saying that homosexuals were “worse than animals”, saying: “I’d be prepared to share a platform with any bigot in order to challenge and expose them. Not just Manny, but Vladimir Putin, Robert Mugabe. I would and have, shared platforms with lots of bigoted people in the past and I think successfully have exposed their prejudice.”
You can watch the full interview with Peter Tatchell, as well as guests Susie Boniface (AKA Fleet Street Fox), Des Clarke and Iain Lee, on tonight’s episode of Sam Delaney’s News Thing, 22:25, RTUK, repeated at 01:00 tomorrow
Sam Delaney’s News Thing is on RTUK every Friday at 22:25 and Saturday at 01:00
To view the interview, click here:
A new addition to the Brighton and Hove calendar, Hove Grown aims to be an affordable precursor for local talent, in the lead up to the Brighton Festival and Brighton Fringe in May. The festival is a joint venture between ZLS Theatre, Brighton’s only social enterprise theatre company, and Sweet Venues who manage the award winning Dukebox Theatre.
You must be logged in to post a comment.