Enough is Enough

Join Sir Ian McKellen and Coronation Street Star Antony Cotton in saying Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia.

On Monday May 17 (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) The Lesbian & Gay Foundation (LGF) launch Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia.

Homophobia bruises, batters and kills people every day. People we know. People we love.

Homophobia is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. It has never been more important than right now to take action.

Screen and stage legend Sir Ian McKellen and Coronation Street star Antony Cotton, have already signed up to take action against homophobia and both feature in the Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia video which is released on May 17 (Video embargoed until 9.00am).

Over the coming months Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia will be at Pride events and Festivals, asking people to sign up to join the movement against homophobia.

The hard facts

Lesbian, gay and bisexual people still live with the daily reality of homophobia, and many of us live our lives in secret, not publicly acknowledging our sexual orientation for fear of reprisal, ridicule or attack.

In the UK, we have seen a number of high profile homophobic attacks in recent years.

Ian Baynham, 62, died from fatal injuries sustained in a homophobic attack in London, he wasn’t only a gay man, he was a son, a brother, a partner, a friend, and a workmate. He was loved.

Homophobia can be felt all over the world

In South Africa Eudy Simelane, one of the first women to live openly in her community as a lesbian, was gang-raped and brutally beaten before being knifed 25 times in the face, chest and legs. Eudy wasn’t only a lesbian, she was a daughter, she was a partner, and a team mate. She was loved.

In 75 countries across the world, being gay is punishable by imprisonment and hard labour, and in 7 countries across the world being gay means you face the death penalty because of who you love.

On our streets, in our homes, in our schools and at work, homophobia is hurting those who are seen as different from the “norm”. Lesbians, gay men and bisexual people are a target of hatred because of who they love. It’s called homophobia, and it needs to stop.

Messages of support

“Your support means we can continue to spread the word that enough is enough, we won’t stand for homophobia in any form. There’s just one more thing you can do today. Ask your friends and family to sign up too.” Sir Ian McKellen

“I’m proud to say Enough is Enough! because homophobia in any form or context is unacceptable and needs to stop. Sadly, it is still a daily reality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people and also their family and friends - on the streets, at school, at work and in the home. Sign up to the campaign and take positive action against homophobia.” Antony Cotton

Take Action

The first action people can take is to sign up to join the movement against homophobia. We want ordinary people; mums, dads, sons, daughters, grans, grandads, husbands, wives, partners, friends, and workmates - to stand shoulder to shoulder and take positive action against homophobia. Go to www.lgf.org.uk/enough to sign up.

By emailing enough@lgf.org.uk, people can receive the Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia events, volunteering and fundraising packs and toolkits to help inspire them to take action against homophobia.

Whatever the action, www.lgf.org.uk/enough will be celebrating it; from same sex partners taking a picture of themselves holding hands in public, to people forming gay/straight alliances and LGB groups, to marching against homophobia at Pride festivals across the country.

Why the time is now?

It has never been more important than right now to take action against homophobia.

Too often the victims of hate are forgotten, now is the time to say Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia, the stories of Ian Baynham, James Parkes, Michael Causer, Eudy Similane and all those killed or battered by homophobia must be kept alive, and the campaign for justice for each and every one of them will continue.

Too often lesbian, gay and bisexual people tolerate prejudice, now is the time to say Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia, we will have the confidence to use our rights, to report homophobic hate crime and demand equality.

Too often homophobia is dismissed solely as a lesbian, gay and bisexual issue, now is the time to say Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia, homophobia touches all communities, we must stand together to take positive action against hate.

Join the movement to take action against homophobia now!

“At what point do we say Enough? At what point do we stand up, as a total group, and say we will not allow it to happen anymore? Enough is Enough!” Harvey Milk, 1978

Published: 17-May-2010: (136)