This is the sorry tale of how US Customs officials decided to apply such a test – and as a result humiliated and embarrassed a Canadian woman who was on her way to run a marathon and visit friends.

The story, released today by Christin Milloy, who also alerted the world to Canada’s no-fly rule, is that of Jennifer McCreath, from Newfoundland.

Following GRS in January 2011, Ms McCreath applied for a new birth certificate from the Nova Scotia administration, secure in the knowledge that according to officials there, she should expect to wait no longer than 10 days for her new documentation.

Seven weeks later, and with no certificate in sight, Ms McCreath was forced to set off carrying only her current passport, which included a gender marker of “M”.

All went well, until Toronto Pearson international airport, where she had to go through customs before boarding her next airplane, to the United States.

A US Customs agent inspected her passport, where and directed Ms McCreath to ‘Secondary Screening’, where she was photographed and fingerprinted. A further 90 minutes elapsed before anyone else spoke to her: since other individuals were dealt with in the intervening minutes, there is some concern that this was done deliberately in order to ensure she would miss her plane.

There then followed a search of her bags and according to Ms McCreath: “They started asking me all sorts of bizarre personal questions about my sexuality.” They also asked a number of intrusive and personal questions about surgery they assumed she had had, as well as questioning her about her medication and the purpose of a highly intimate device – a dilator – that they discovered in her luggage.

This last line of questioning continued despite the fact that Ms McCreath was carrying with her a doctor’s note which, she explained, “describes (the medical device) as urgent for me to have on my person, and can’t afford to lose them in luggage and to please let me carry them on board”.

In the end, Ms McCreath was permitted to continue on her way, paying out an additional $80 for having to change flights. To add insult to injury, it subsequently transpired that had she chosen to do so, she could have obtained a temporary passport from the Canadian Passport Office in the two years prior to her surgery. However, despite several conversations and a visit to the offices of that body, she was at no time informed of this option.

Following so soon after attempts by Canada’s Ministry of Transport to justify similar discriminatory legislation in respect of flying over Canada, this is a stark reminder of what happens when bad rules are allowed to lie on the books.

Spokespersons for that Office told us last week that:

- The no-fly rules were not new: they had originally been implemented in 2007, and were re-issued last summer;

- They were designed with “security” in mind and would help transport officials in determining whether an individual resembled their photographic identity

- They were in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation rules, as well as similar rules enforced by every other government in the world

They declined, however, to answer questions as to how a subjective assessment of gender might help an individual match a face to a photograph: nor would they give any further information as to how this measure would assist with security.

Despite several requests to substantiate their claims in respect of ICAO rulings, they declined to provide any text to corroborate their claims: nor were they prepared to back up their claims that these rules were the same as rules implemented elsewhere in the world.

Spokespersons for both the UK Border Agency and UK Dept of Transport told us that they were not aware of any such regulation being implemented in the UK.

Most chillingly, when asked how it could be possible for an official to determine whether a passenger appears “to be of the gender indicated on the identification he or she presents” – and whether there were any plans to carry out strip searches in this respect, they again declined to respond.

Ms McCreath understands that US officials are allowed to operate on Canadian soil so long as they abide by Canadian Human Rights legislation: if nothing else, the existence of Canada’s no-fly regulations seems likely to be used by US officials as justification for their action in this instance.

The March edition asks leaders of the three main political parties to meet with the parents of bullied children to hear their stories first-hand.

Radcliffe, who has been honoured for his work promoting suicide-prevention charity the Trevor Project, is among those discussing bullying in next month’s issue.

The actor, 22, says the prevalence of teen suicides is “not surprising when you consider how accessible a bullying victim is now. You used to be able to escape at the end of a day: now you can be hunted by mobile phone, Facebook, Twitter. It’s terrifying.”

The Harry Potter star says people should not define themselves only by sexuality: “Don’t define as straight or gay, define yourself as people and help another person if they’re in trouble.”

On equality in marriage, he says: “The ultimate reason gay marriage should be legalized everywhere is because, as a kid, you look to your mum and dad and they’re married; then you look at the gay couple who’ve been together for the same amount of time, but because they can’t get married their relationship doesn’t seem the same.

“Yes, gay marriage is about symbolically blessing a relationship, but the larger issue is about transmitting a fundamental message about equality. Gay people should have equality in law everywhere.”

Editor Matthew Todd told PinkNews.co.uk they had chosen Daniel Radcliffe to be on the cover of the issue “because he speaks directly to the masses and because he is a patron of the Trevor Project in New York and so genuinely passionate about helping to stop homophobic bullying.

“Anyone who thinks that its gotten significantly better in schools should read the stories in the new issue of families whose lives have been devastated by homophobic bullying. We know these kids are out there – we were all young and gay once – but their voices are never heard. Often in the past the parents have been too distraught to speak out or just not wanted to.”

The issue will also contain interviews with the parents of bullied children and one of the final interviews with the late anti-bullying campaigner Roger Crouch.

The father of schoolboy Dominic Crouch, who killed himself in May 2010, had become a prominent voice in the fight against homophobic bullying alongside his wife last year.

He was honoured with a Stonewall Hero of the Year Award in 2011 but would go on to hang himself only a few weeks later.

Todd says: “Like everyone else, we are devastated by his death but I think some good can come out of it if it helps all of us refocus our efforts so that in schools homophobic bullying becomes as unacceptable as racism is.

“The current situation is unacceptable. Schools are not doing enough. We’re calling on the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and Ed Miliband to meet these parents we’ve interviewed and to do something about it.

“We specifically need to see LGBT equality issues taught to teachers during their training, something which is not currently mandatory. I’m hoping this issue can spur us on for a wider discussion about what else is needed.”

The March issue of Attitude is out on tablet from today and in stores from 8 February.

Cohen, 29, discusses coming out to his Jewish family in the time of Section 28, when discussion about being gay was limited in schools. He also condemns reparative therapy for same sex attractions. His former school, JFS, was criticised last month for showing sixth form students a slide about gay cure treatments.

He says: “I first began the process of coming out when I was fifteen. For a few years, I wondered if the feelings I had would go away and maybe whether they were a test from God.

“When I look back at it now, I can’t believe how scared I was when I first started telling my family and friends. I knew that there were already openly gay people in my extended family and that my parents had a few gay friends. But I remembered a rather nasty comment my Dad said about gay people when I was younger, something I really focused on.

“In reality when I told my family, they were more surprised that my ex-boyfriend wasn’t Jewish than that he was a guy. They just wanted to me be happy and more recently, my Dad has become vocal advocates for LGBT rights in their professional and communal lives.

“Although, back when I came out were living in a totally different world, Section 28 meant homosexuality wasn’t really discussed in schools, there wasn’t an equal age of consent, no civil partnerships and no prospect of same sex marriage- something our prime minister wants to introduce.

“But I realise that despite the advances in equality, coming out is still difficult, especially if like me you come from a faith background. For some it’s not just about how your family reacts, it’s about how you fit into a community that you love.”

Cohen was a pupil at JFS, the school which came under fire last month for showing pupils a slide depicting the logo of a ‘gay cure’ group during a discussion on homosexuality.

He says: “Unfortunately some young people are still being told that homosexuality is a choice, a wrong choice, NOT something that you can’t help. In some religious institutions young people are being told about so called reparative therapy for same sex attraction. In other words, courses and treatments to turn you straight.

“I know people who’ve spent tens of thousands of pounds trying to unsuccessfully alter their sexuality and other people have harmed themselves after failing. On both sides of the Atlantic, medical associations condemn the practise.

“But, there is another way, I feel twice blessed that I was born into the Jewish and LGBT community and in part it’s because I’ve discovered that there are tens of thousands of people like me.

“In Britain we have Keshet UK, the national LGBT Jewish forum and groups including Gay Jews in London, JGLG, Engayje, the Gay and Lesbian Orthodox Network and Imaot v Avot – the group for LGBT parents. And in the wider faith community there’s the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, and Imaan the group for LGBT Muslims.

“The point is that there are people like you, lots of them and you’ll find by supporting each other, it gets better.”

Homosexuality has always been a hot potato in the Jewish community. Proponents argue that Judaism is homophobic while detractors insist they are just upholding the letter of the law.

The biblical injunction against homosexual activity is clear. People who want to conform to the Bible should not be condemned as homophobic anymore than critics of religion might be labelled theophobic. However, just because I maintain that homosexuality is wrong doesn’t mean I have to go beating the drum about it anymore than I might regularly preach against adultery. To be sure, there are times when public statements are deemed necessary, such as when same-sex marriages began to become legalised. Imagine the public outcry were bigamy to be declared legal. Similarly, when governments were voting with their feet to recognise same-sex marriages, it was only to be expected that moralists and religious leaders would speak out against. Still, even when it is considered necessary to protest, it remains imperative that basic sensitivity is maintained. A fundamental principle in Judaism, sadly lost on too many extremists today, is to condemn the action, never the person. Take for example the “Statement of Principles on the Place of Jews with a Homosexual Orientation in Our Community,” initially released in mid-2010. It was signed by dozens of leading Orthodox Rabbis across the Jewish world, making perfectly clear the traditional Jewish viewpoint on homosexuality, while also reassuring gay people that they are always welcome into Synagogues and communities.

Last week, the Jews Free School in London made headlines for teaching a class that homosexuality can be cured. According to a Jewish Chronicle report, as part of the school’s Jewish studies curriculum, pupils were shown a website from the American group JONAH – Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality, apparently introduced at the end of the textual study on homosexuality and the Orthodox viewpoint. Having met last night with Michael Glass, the Chair of Governors of JFS, he informs me that the school has issued a statement denying the reported sequence of events, and insisting it was something that formed part of a discussion, rather than an ideal that was being formally promoted.

Meanwhile, Holland’s Chief Rabbi, Aryeh Ralbag has been suspended for putting his signature to the JONAH mission statement that promotes the idea that homosexuality can be “mitigated and potentially eliminated.” This in turn has prompted a public outcry from the Conference of European Rabbis and others, arguing that to relieve a Chief Rabbi from his position for upholding an ancient biblical law, is deplorable, “verging on fascism.”

There is a difference between issuing a statement asserting the traditional Jewish view on homosexuality, and offering one’s own theory about “illness and cure.” The Bible condemns the act as an abomination, as it does eating bacon. Plain and simply put, it is forbidden. That’s where the scope of any Rabbi’s position should begin and end. If psychotherapists believe that sexual orientation can be altered, that is their remit. It’s not for Rabbis to go publically endorsing such a position, which is essentially saying, not only are you gay but you’re also mentally unstable. That’s crossing the line into condemning the person, not just the act.

Chief Rabbi Ralbag should not be relieved of his position for taking a religious stance on a traditional biblical position. That’s plain ludicrous. However, his sensitivity, and by extension his ability to reach out to his wider constituency, in endorsing a controversial statement regarding homosexuals, must surely be called into question.

Yitzchak Schochet is the Rabbi for Mill Hill United Synagogue and is responsible for family issues in the Chief Rabbi’s cabinet. He blogs at www.shul.co.uk/rabbi and can be followed on twitter @RabbiYYS

As with all “Comment” pieces, the views of Rabbi Schochet do not represent the views of PinkNews.co.uk

Govenor Christine Gregoire said: “As governor, I believe the state of Washington cannot be in the business of discrimination. As an American, a wife and mother, marriage equality is fair, just, and right. And it is time.”

Washington’s state senate approved a bill last night to give equal marriage rights to gay citizens, 28-21.

The lifting of the gay marriage ban is now almost certain to pass as it heads to the state’s House of Representatives, where it is not expected to encounter majority opposition.

(iPhone users may need to click here to view the video)

The protest was good-natured and polite, with around 40 members and supporters of the UK’s trans community giving out leaflets, displaying placards and engaging embassy staff in good natured debate.

Nonetheless, protesters were clear that the issue is serious and will not go away.

The dispute arises from the fact that under Swedish law, dating back to 1972, trans individuals may not obtain recognition in their identified gender unless they first undergo sterilisation. In many instances – MtF gender re-assignment, for instance – this will be the natural outcome of surgery anyway. But there are other circumstances – FtM re-assignment, for instance, where this is not the case.

Not only does this run counter to what is now accepted practice in a number of countries, including Portugal, the UK and Spain, but Sweden also sets an additional requirement: the destruction of any biological reproductive material, including sperm and eggs, which could later be used in IVF procedures. It is an approach that has been condemned by Thomas Hammarberg, the commissioner for human rights of the Council of Europe, who has said that such a requirement “clearly runs against principles of human rights and human dignity”.

Outrage is all the fiercer, as it is understood that there is a majority in the Swedish parliament in favour of abandoning this stance…but that moves to do so have been blocked by Sweden’s prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt in order to retain the support of minority right-wing elements within the governing coalition. This claim has, however, been explicitly denied by Minister Erik Ullenhag.

Giving support to the demonstration was internationally acclaimed gender variant visual artist/activist/educator, Del LaGrace Volcano, who said: “It has taken more than a decade for the mainstream lesbian and gay community in Sweden, represented by RFSL, to wake up to this issue, but THEY are now finally making some headway.

“My feeling is that a new, younger – and more militant – component within Sweden’s trans community are emerging: in the past, many tended to self-pathologise. This generation refuses to do so – and are determined to stand up for their rights as human beings.”

The Swedish ambassador was unavailable for comment at this time – but may do so at a later date.

In the late 1980s, we dealt with the massive attack on the embryonic work in schools to tackle the invisibility of gays and lesbians: Section 28.

By 2000 life had changed. Unions had worked to support LGBT people in all walks of life, including teaching. We had developed a theory and vocabulary that explained and described the discrimination we faced. We had a Labour government that promised legislation that would begin to deal with many of our issues and the Stephen Lawrence report had woken institutions to the effect of institutional prejudice.

However schools were notoriously slow to pick up on all of this. Section 28 was not repealed till 2003 and it went with a whimper rather than a bang. So few teachers were aware, their habit of ignoring LGBT people and issues were hardly challenged.

Paul and the Schools OUT committee had worked throughout the dark days raising the issues writing lesson plans, producing a teachers’ pack and lobbying the government to challenge the institutional homophobia. Gradually they took on transphobia.

We had seen the success of Black History month in schools. It had made a difference by enabling teachers to think about the issues in a more creative and focused way. We wondered if we could institute such a month for us.

2003 was a momentous year: Section 28 was finally abolished and we got the first legislation that outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation and then later on gender identity in the work place.

The Single Equality Act was mooted with a public duty that would cover sexual orientation and gender identity. It occurred to us that this was maybe the moment to float an LGBT History Month.

After much discussion in deciding the appropriate month we hit on February – not the best month weather wise, but a quiet month in the school calendar, which crucially had a half term. We were confident that museums and libraries would be the first to use the month and we concluded that if that was the case parents, children and – most importantly – teachers would see the displays and feel empowered to take their experiences back to their schools.

We approached the Department of Education in the early months of 2004 with a plan and a budget. Although they were not uninterested, they were very slow to give us clarity. By the summer I felt we had to take the plunge, so I made the announcement of the Month at the launch of Amnesty International’s book Sex Love and Homophobia, and a small ripple of interest occurred. At London Pride we asked several VIPs going on the stage at Trafalgar Stage to make an announcement. Most refused, however, ironically, Simon Hughes agreed and did so. Gill Spraggs was working away setting up the website designing a logo and pulling together resources.

Eventually in November we heard from the Department they would give us a small grant and the race was on to create the publicity and get the website ready.

The unions – teaching and non-teaching – were supportive. The National Union of Teachers remunerated us through affiliation fees and the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) created the first LGBT timeline which was a piece of education and – in all its rainbow coloured glory – a work of art

I had been active in Southwark on the anti Homophobic Forum, Simon was a Southwark MP so it was logical to ask their help. They came up trumps and they obtained the cinema at the Tate Modern to hold a Pre launch in early December.

The line-up of speakers was phenomenal. We worked hard to have the true diversity of our community; a philosophy that drives us to this day. There were almost as many people on the stage as there were in the audience.

We had hoped that if we had 10 events in the following February we would have made it a success; we in fact had over a 100. One of the speakers – Linda Bellos – prophesied that people there on that day would remember with pride that they were there when we would celebrate LGBT History month at Wembley.

Well, we have not got there yet, however Pre Launch venues have included The Royal Courts of Justice, The British Museum, Twickenham Rugby Stadium and the Oval; as well as a Church of England School.

The Committee that makes the month happen is small, dedicated and voluntary. Paul sadly died in October 2008, nine of us continue the work.

Elly Barnes, a music teacher who topped the Independent’s Pink List in 2011, is our school representative and delivers training to teachers up and down the land.

Nigel Tart, a maths teacher, has been our media officer doing sterling work getting us recognised in both the LGBT and straight press.

Dave Watkins was our treasurer and was vital in setting up the new website the classroom with both design and content. Stephen Boyce is our Patrons representative. Jeff Evans is our academic representative and has organised trips to Berlin to meet with LGBT activists there and enabled many conferences and meeting with archivists and universities.

Amy Macmillan was our membership administrator, crucial given the importance of subscriptions, as we are not funded. Naechane Romeo is our trans representative. Huw Williams is our web technician making sure all three sites are up and running and dealing with emergencies. Amelia Lee is our youth representative and next year will be organising the Schools OUT conference in Manchester and runs the Paul Patrick scheme which supports schools including LGBT people.

The main success of the month is of course due to the tireless work of people up and down the country who grab the month and what it stands for and set up events large and small in their neighbourhoods, libraries, unions, schools, churches, parks, pubs, museum, local authorities, theatres, parks and streets.

The month came from the grass roots, teachers and activists who knew that something had to be done to educate and celebrate the existence of LGBT people everywhere. We hit on a way of working and networking so we are now embedded in the national calendar and got endorsements from both the Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition.

We also supported the birth of two new history months The Disabled History Month November22 to December 22 and Women’s History Month in March. We are working with Pride Solidarity to spread our work across Europe our website is used throughout the world – literally!

We are passionate about diversity and visibility. The words of Paul Patrick and Tony Fenwick perhaps say it all:

We are lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people and their friends.
We exist in all times and places.
We speak each and every language.
We laugh and cry.
We talk and remain silent.
We are emperors and peasants.
We are conservatives and revolutionaries.
We are actors, artists, bricklayers, bookies, cab drivers, cooks and clowns.
We are employed and unemployed. We raise our children and we bury our dead.
When we can, we attend school, college and university.
When we can, we go out into the streets.
We read the papers and watch the TV.
We attend church, synagogue, temple and mosque.
We are free and confined.
We celebrate and we hide.
We are happy and sad. We are supported and alone.

Paul Patrick and Tony Fenwick, 2005

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) History Month 2011 and 2012 is fighting for LGBT people to be active in sport – as spectators and participants; at elite and at street level.

Tackling homophobia and transphobia on the pitch and on the terraces is an essential step.

Please help us attain that goal.

The actress’s observations in a New York Times interview this month sparked controversy, when she seemed to say she chose to be gay.

Now the 45-year-old has said it was within the scope of her bisexuality that she decided to enter a gay relationship, rather than switching at will between exclusively gay and straight sexual orientations.

She reiterated that her comments only applied to her, not the gay community in general.

Though Nixon had made it clear in her original interview that she was only speaking for herself, she drew criticism from gay rights advocates who said statements which imply there may be an element of choice in sexuality hinder the fight for equal rights.

Nixon and Christine Marinoni have been together for nine years and went public with their relationship in 2004. She has two children from a former 15-year relationship with a man.

Nixon’s statement in full reads: “My recent comments in The New York Times were about me and my personal story of being gay. I believe we all have different ways we came to the gay community and we can’t and shouldn’t be pigeon-holed into one cultural narrative which can be uninclusive and disempowering. However, to the extent that anyone wishes to interpret my words in a strictly legal context I would like to clarify:

“While I don’t often use the word, the technically precise term for my orientation is bisexual. I believe bisexuality is not a choice, it is a fact. What I have ‘chosen’ is to be in a gay relationship.

“As I said in the Times and will say again here, I do, however, believe that most members of our community — as well as the majority of heterosexuals — cannot and do not choose the gender of the persons with whom they seek to have intimate relationships because, unlike me, they are only attracted to one sex.

“Our community is not a monolith, thank goodness, any more than America itself is. I look forward to and will continue to work toward the day when America recognizes all of us as full and equal citizens.”

This is the result of new rules, introduced last July, but only now coming to light, which state that an air carrier “shall not transport a passenger if … the passenger does not appear to be of the gender indicated on the identification he or she presents”.

The reason that it has taken so long for this provision to percolate through to public awareness is that it was introduced not through formal legislation before the Canadian legislature, but as part Identity Screening Regulations, implemented unilaterally by the Ministry of Transportation, in support of Canada’s so-called Passenger Protect programme.

Its impact will be felt first by members of the Canadian transgender community, who may only change the ‘sex’ designation on a Canadian Passport, on provision of proof that surgery has taken place, or will take place within one year. This, it is argued by blogger, Christin Scarlett Milloy, means that non-operative transgender persons, gender nonconforming (genderqueer) persons, and the vast majority of pre-operative transsexual persons will find it literally impossible to obtain “proper” travel documentation.

However, there is likely to be some degree of impact on trans persons from any other country travelling through Canada on documents that fail to meet these new criteria.

A petition calling on the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, to have these regulations set aside has been launched on change.org.

Meanwhile, cynics are speculating whether this move is ill-thought accident – or a rather more sinister piece of revenge by Conservative MP and Minister for Transport, Denis Lebel.

The change to regulations took place shortly after the federal election in 2011. In the previous parliament, Bill C-389, a bill to amend the Human Rights Code to explicitly enshrine protections against discrimination for transgender people, had successfully passed in the House of Commons, only to die on the Senate floor when the election was declared.

As Ms Milloy asked yesterday: “Is the timing of this disturbing and blatantly discriminatory regulatory adjustment merely a coincidence?

Analysis

Some people have been asking how many individuals have actually been prevented from flying by these regulations: but that misses the point entirely – which is that the use of perceived gender in this fashion is deeply offensive not simply to trans men and women, but to all men and women who fail to live up to societally imposed “norms” of gender and appearance.

A particular issue, which i have reported on in the past, is how women whose appearance is in any way “butch” or masculine frequently report difficulties in some women’s spaces.

While some will inevitably defend this move on grounds of “security”, it is important to understand what is being required here. No-one is objecting to government rules that require an individual’s appearance to match to their description on their pasport – or indeed that they should be allowed to duck out on biometric measures such as fingerprinting or retinal scans.

But this is about something else: whether an individual fits with the preconceived notions of what a border guard believes constitutes a “normal” appearance for their declared gender.

Over the last twelve months, Australia has stated its aim of permitting an “indeterminate” status to be recorded on passports for intersex individuals: and the UK Government has revealed that it is examining the entire question of whether gender markers on official documents are useful – not just, as critics would have it, for reasons of “political correctness”, but because there are genuine doubts that it really adds much that is useful.

This makes the Canadian regulation looks all the more like a seriously retrograde – and spiteful – step.

Jane Fae is an independent writer and sexual rights activist. 

A petition has also been started on change.org.

According to a statement released by IGLYO yesterday, the girl, elsewhere identified only as “Alex” (Alexandra) lives with her mother, who supports her gender expression. However, the girl’s father, divorced and separated from her mother, strongly rejects this view of his daughter’s gender identity and wants to force her to grow up as a boy.

If all else fails, there is a real and present possibility that pressure from her father, supported by the Youth Welfare Office in Berlin, means that Alex will shortly be confined in a closed ward of a psychiatric institution to ensure that “he” returns to “normality”.

This is despite the fact that Alex claims, in an interview published earlier this month in online lifestyle magazine taz.de, that she has identified as female for as long as she can remember. She is accepted as female at school, and has been registered as such from her earliest days there.

This led to conflict with her father, who insisted on calling her “Alexander” and forcing her to wear boy’s clothes. When Alex reacted negatively, he accused her of being badly behaved. Her parents split over the matter of Alex’s gender.

Now, with puberty fast approaching – and Alex claiming she would rather die than go through the changes it is likely to bring about – her father has besieged the Youth Office with written submissions.

His motives are unclear: what is clear is that the child has not been examined by independent experts – but a new member of staff in the Berlin Youth Office believes him and claims that the correct response to Alex’s suicide threats if she does not receive treatment for gender dysphoria is for her to be committed to a mental institution.

Alex should be encouraged to identify with male role models and to follow male pursuits: female preferences would be discouraged. Thereafter, according to a proposal that has shocked Professor Udo Rauchfleisch, a recognized expert in the care and treatment of transsexuality with the University of Basel, she should be separated from her mother and placed with foster parents.

There are clear similarities between this and approaches adopted by John Money in respect of David Reimer and David Rekers with Kirk Murphy: both cases ended badly with the subsequent suicide of the individuals – Reimer and Murphy – who were the target of this reparative therapy.

This is echoed by a statement from IGLYO. They write: “The board of IGLYO strongly advocates the rights of transgender youth and are concerned with the institutionalization of this happy and healthy child. We would like to highlight the endangerment of forced “therapy” to make children fit into the gender roles the society thinks are right for them. IGLYO follows the wealth of research that shows that reparative therapy regarding sexual orientation or gender identity can be seriously harmful to the child.

“The Board of IGLYO declares our solidarity with the girl and her mother. Moreover, we ask the authorities of Berlin to intervene with the actions of the Youth Welfare Office and stop the removal of the child from her mother. We find it extremely irresponsible and unacceptable to remove any child from a loving and supportive home without thorough research and consultation with experts.

“In line with international human rights standards, IGLYO advocates for the best interests of the child. The institutionalization of this child violates many human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the European Convention on Human Rights.”

The case is now being referred upward to Germany’s supreme court.

The national event, which is in its eighth year, has as its theme the issue of homophobia in sport.

A full list of events across the UK can be found at the LGBT History Month website.

Suran Dickson, CEO of the anti-bullying charity Diversity Role Models, will be hosting Queer Question Time with a panel of 5 local, national, and international LGBT icons at the first event in Southwark.

Queer Question Time will cover the special topic of homophobia in sport as well as the Olympics and the Cultural Olympiad and the broader issues facing the LGBT community.

The panellists will include sports broadcaster Bob Ballard, the FSA’s Head of Corporate Responsibility Claire Harvey, founder of the Marlin swimming group Dave Merchant and Kelly Simmons, Head of National Game for the FA.

Sue Sanders, the Co-Chair of LGBT History Month UK and Schools Out and Councillor Abdul Mohamed, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Community Engagement will be opening the evening at 7pm followed by a performance from the Pink Singers, an LGBT community choir based in London.

The launch will take place at Glaziers Hall by the river Thames on Wednesday 1 February 2012.

Doors 6 – 9.30pm, Music from the Pink Singers 7pm, Debate 7.30pm
Entrance to the event is free but advance booking is required. Contact Helen Laker at Southwark Council on 0207 525 0848 or Helen.Laker@southwark.gov.uk.

Mr Ban told delegates at the event held in Addis Ababa: “One form of discrimination ignored or even sanctioned by many states for too long has been discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

“It prompted governments to treat people as second-class citizens or even criminals.”

Homosexuality is illegal in many African countries and there is widespread discrimination in those that do not outlaw gay sex. Only South Africa recognises LGBT rights in its constitution and allows gay marriage.

“Confronting these discriminations is a challenge, but we must not give up on the ideas of the universal declaration of human rights,” Mr Ban told the summit.

Last year, the British government said it would divert aid away from African governments that discriminate against LGBT citizens prompting Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe to describe the arrangement as ‘satanic’. He said: “It becomes worse and satanic when you get a prime minister like Cameron saying countries that want British aid should accept homosexuality. To come with that diabolic suggestion to our people is a stupid offer.”

African Union chairman Tedoro Obiang Nguema, speaking before Mr Ban said: “Africa should not be questioned with regards to democracy, human rights, governance and transparency in public administration,”

In 2010, Mr Ban made a very public call for the end to discrimination against LGBT people saying: “As men and women of conscience, we reject discrimination in general, and in particular discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. When individuals are attacked, abused or imprisoned because of their sexual orientation, we must speak out.

“We cannot stand by. We cannot be silent.

“This is all the more true in cases of violence. These are not merely assaults on individuals. They are attacks on all of us. They devastate families. They pit one group against another, dividing larger society. And when the perpetrators of violence escape without penalty, they make a mockery of the universal values we hold dear.

“We have a collective responsibility to stand against discrimination, to defend our fellow human beings and our fundamental principles.”

Here are some of the photo highlights.

Jackie, 18, is currently leading in her heat of the quarter finals of the competition.

Now she speaks to PinkNews.co.uk about Miss England, Lady Gaga, her aspirations, goals and love life.

Did you have any doubts about entering the competition, given the discrimination you have experienced in the past?
No. I didn’t even think about not being accepted into the competition. I felt and still feel that I deserve just as much a chance to compete as anyone else. I am a woman (or a ‘Miss’ for the sake of the competition) and no one can tell me otherwise.

What would it mean to you to win Miss England and in what ways will you use the exposure of the competition to get your positive message across?
To win Miss England would be beyond amazing. To be honest just being in the quarter finals feels great, and to be competing with other beautiful girls just confirms to me more that I deserve to be in the competition.

I want to promote the charity Mermaids because it helped me and my family through a lot of hardship. I met some amazing people in similar situations to me which made me feel less alienated. I hope to be a role model for kids struggling with gender issues. There are not many people for them to look up to and thus they fear for what might happen to them. I want to show people that trans people are very normal and that there is hope.

Other than the exposure of competing in Miss England, how do you plan to champion transgender rights, and combat transphobic bullying?
I am working with a organisation called ‘Trans Media Watch’ who aim to guide the media in the way they portray Trans people to ensure that it is fair.

I hope to shed light on trans people so that society can understand we are very normal people and all we wish is to live our lives. We are not hurting anyone, we were simply born a little different, with a defect if you like, and have a right to be comfortable in our own skin and treated as who we are, human beings.

I understand you want to be a model – is there a particular type of modelling you’d like to do?
I want to be a high fashion model for two reasons. I am told that I have a very ‘High Fashion Face’ and I also love how expressive and unique the clothes can be. I love the very ‘out-there’ designs and I feel fashion is an art form and one of the best ways to express yourself.

What would your dream job be?
I would love to model for either Vivienne Westwood or Heatherette and do a shoot with Lady Gaga. I love Gaga. I would also love to get a role in the new show starring Zooey Deschanel, ‘New Girl’. It would also be amazing to appear in ‘Glee’.

What special talents will you bring to the Miss England if you get through to the next heat?
If I was to get through to the semi-finals I would most likely sing. I have sung since I was young and am told I am rather good!

In what ways has the competition boosted your confidence, and what would you say to others who have let low confidence hold them back?
Being in the competition has given me a huge boost of confidence. To see how many people have voted for me and to be in the quarter finals with such gorgeous women is just amazing. I cant even describe how outrageously great this feels. The support from family, friends and strangers who have read my story makes me well up! It is very humbling too.

I feel that at the end of the day if you dont try something then you will probably regret it and what is the worst that can happen? I know that Modelling is a hard business to get into and I know that I will be rejected a lot but I can’t let that stop me.

All you need to know is that you are who you are and you are beautiful both inside and out.

Being the youngest person in the UK to have full gender reassignment surgery, do you have a message for anybody who might feel unsure?
I have always been very sure and known what I wanted and who I am. I will say that if you are unsure because you are worried how people will react and you feel people may think of you as selfish then don’t. Is it not selfish of them to expect you to live in the wrong body knowing how much pain you are in and how much you are suffering? You are who you are and people should be able to accept you for that.

You’ve said that you want to combat transphobic bullying. What would you like to say to anyone experiencing bullying, or more generally bullying of any kind?
It’s not your fault. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Kids (and adults) can be cruel but it is due to fear and ignorance. Stay strong and talk to someone about it. Don’t keep quiet or it will hurt even more.

(Photo: Maxine Heron)

A lot of the time bullying can come from misunderstanding – what would you like to say to the bullies of LGBT people, and what message do you want to get across to people who perpetrate hate crime?
You are not big, you are not clever, all you are doing is making a fool of yourself. I just wish that people could understand that we are all humans, we are not hurting anyone and if we are going to hell, as so many religions say we are, then thats our business and I will go down there knowing I have lived my life how I want to and not fallen to conformity.

How supportive is your boyfriend of you competing in Miss England and how difficult was it to tell him about your choice to have the operation?
He has been amazing. He is very proud of me and loves that he is dating a Miss England contestant and model! It was scary telling him due to the fact that I had received a lot of hatred in my past and so was scared he would run a mile, but he didn’t. He told me he didn’t care because he already had fallen in love with me. We are still going strong at two and a bit years.

How far do you think there is to go in the fight for equality? You’ve talked about not hiding who you are. How important do you think it is that people come forward rather than hiding away?
I think that people need to see how normal we are. I came forward to do that. I am your average teenage girl who has friends, a boyfriend and so on. I go out, I play Xbox and I love to read. I am a normal person just born in the wrong body.

Jackie’s heat of the Miss England quarter finals closes on 6 Feburary, and voting is currently open.

The proposed system would replace the current ‘gender’ field with one marked ‘sex’, with the stipulation that this be the student’s ‘legal sex’ and only offer two choices, male or female, with no opt-out.

Alongside this would be the question “Is your gender identity the same as the gender you were originally assigned at birth?” with answer options ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘information refused’.

Equality campaigners have noted that this may cause problems for transsexual students who don’t want to be open about their background, with some regarding it as a private medical matter. Due to the protection given by Gender Recognition Certificates and the fact some trans people have their birth certificates amended, there may be legal complications.

Similarly, under the proposals people who have transitioned without state recognition would be obliged to identify their ‘legal sex’ and not be able to provide their gender identity alone or simply opt out of the question.

People with non-binary gender identities would have no appropriate means of identifying themselves and intersex people would be obliged to register a sex which could erase the reality of their bodies.

“I just don’t think HESA will get accurate data from this because most trans people won’t respond to it,” said Natacha Kennedy, who is an education researcher at Goldsmith’s College, London. “I think it has been done with the best of intentions but without consultation with trans people themselves. You can’t just take an approach from another area of diversity, such as race, and apply it to trans people.

“This is about collecting data but what’s really needed is qualitative research looking at things like whether or not trans people feel safe to come out at university.”

The proposed changes may be an attempt to bring HESA’s work into line with EHRC gender identity monitoring guidance, which has already been criticised for its focus on sex as recorded at birth. A Scottish focus group found that trans and intersex people prefer the existing system.

A spokesman from HESA stressed that the changes have not yet been finalised. “At this stage we are still working with a draft document and we welcome suggestions to improve it. We are trying to bring our work into line with other data standards such as the Census.” He noted that students submitting their data need not fear that it could get into the wrong hands, as it will not be available in a form that enables people to look up individuals.

Its objective is to increase respect towards, and decrease discrimination against, LGBT people living in South America’s most populous city. The first stage of the project aims to combat discrimination and prejudice against transgender people, as well as dissemination of a law that punishes homophobic behaviour and discrimination within the State of Sao Paulo.

All 58 underground stations are covered with bright posters that have pictures of transgender women with the tile: “Look, Look again, and see beyond prejudice. I am trans, I have the right to be who I am.”

Last year, in May 2011, a trans woman won a landmark case against São Paulo Metro, by means of this law, which forced the company to pay R$ 87,250 (about £32,000) in damages after a member of its staff was found guilty of homophobic verbal abuse against the victim.

São Paulo hosts the world’s largest biggest celebration of gay culture in a pride festival in June. Marchers through South America’s biggest city come together to dance in the street, condemn homophobia and demand equal rights.

In response to readers’ messages, Peter Tatchell wrote: “Sincere thanks to everyone for their kind wishes.

“I am just one of the many people who’ve contributed to advances in LGBTI human rights. It is our cumulative, collective efforts that have made so many positive changes. Huge gratitude to everyone who has worked with me over the last 45 years of campaigning. I would not have achieved half of what I’ve done without their help.”

A selection of messages is published below:

“Well done, Peter! This man has done more for LGBT people than most activists and organisations combined. For those who criticise him, they should ask themselves, what have they done lately to advance equality or had the courage to speak out?”
Robert, South Kensington

“Mr Tatchell, I really admire your courage and determination in fighting for the rights of LGB&T people not only in the UK, but all over the world. It is time that people all over the world realise that it is a stain on all of mankind to continue with the persecution of LGB&T people.”
Joanne Manson

“What Tatchell has always done and what makes him so outstanding in my opinion is his unique ability to highlight the inequalities suffered by those who don’t fit into the boundaries of societies dominant hegemony to those who often remain blind to life outside of it.

“From my experience of meeting him I also know he has a great sense of humour”
Kevski

“Dream what the world can be and make it happen. God bless Peter, a man who can do that. Dreaming is easy but the make it happen part is hard work and it is good to know there are people like him who have what it takes. We need more men and women like him to over come the hateful people in the Christian and Muslim religions today, they are the main source of money and programs aimed at destroying LGBT people and gay marriage.”
Sam

“He is an inspirational gentleman.”
Darren

“Congratulations, Peter Tatchell…”
Jonpol

“Well done Peter… and very well deserved..

We don’t always agree 100% on things, but I recognise your contribution to LGBT rights worldwide.

For years, you have done the unpleasant jobs… so the rest of us don’t HAVE to..

Those who sit on their cosy safas, behind their keyboards, critisising Peter and saying ‘he does not speak for me’.. would do well to ask themselves who does then?

Peter has never claimed to speak for the ‘gay community’… Sometimes he says what the gay community does not want to hear, or finds unpalatable.. He speaks though for those with no voice!

Well done Peter…. richly deserved and I hope your day raises much needed funds.. Thanks PinkNews!”
Cambodia Guesthouse

“Thanks Peter! So inspiring and encouraging all around the world.”
Paul Oz

“From Bermondsy to present day actions on behalf of gay rights Peter Tatchell has proved his courage and the strength of his convictions. This is a man who should be knighted if ever there was one.

Happy 60th Birthday Peter X”
Johnny

“I have had the pleasure of hearing him speak 3 times, firstly about 20 years ago at our gaysoc at uni and latterly at the annual Greenbelt festival. I genuinely believe the guy is a modern-day saint! And a very humble one too. What an inspiration to us all!”
Jamesh

“It is hard to imagine GAY RIGHTS without Peter Tatchell as he has always been there. It is a shame for Melbourne and Australia that he chose to make London his home and we should all be truly grateful that he did so.”
David Wainwright

“Sam wrote: “We need more men and women like him to overcome the hateful people in the Christian and Muslim religions today. They are the main source of money and programs aimed at destroying LGBT people and gay marriage.”

I heartily endorse this and as a 78-year-old gay activist of much lower status, I warmly congratulate Peter on his long-standing fight for LGBT rights.

Happy 60th birthday!”
George Broadhead

“This is also the date to celebrate Martin Luther King’s birthday in the US. I cannot think of any other gay leader in Britain who more deserves to be compared to the great Dr. King than Peter Tatchell.

At a time when much of the LGBT establishment has become conformist and comfortable, Peter – sometimes almost alone – as kept the radical edge of our activism.”
Paul Hailsall

“Peter Tatchell, Thank you for all your great work campaigning not only for LGBT equality but all that you have done to better this world.

We still have plenty to change but you have had a massive impact on making this world a better place, thank you!!”
Hamish

“I have always been a great admirer, and I congratulate Peter on his outstanding work for LGBT equality for so many years.

My gay son and I took part in a TV programme with him when we were fighting for an equal age of consent. He was brilliant and he has been my inspiration ever since.

With more people like him in the world, it would be a better place.

Happy 60th Birthday!”
Inga Rhodes

“Happy Birthday Peter and welcome to the not yet past it club!”
JohnB

“Peter is a true pioneer for progress and justice.

I so admire his determination to claim justice for the weak, the oppressed and the powerless, regardless of personal safety. Where others would baulk, when it’s neither safe nor popular nor fashionable to put up the fight, Peter perseveres and refuses to compromise his principles.

In a celebrity-obsessed world, where image is all that matters and the glib and the vacuous are celbrated, here’s a true role-model with real substance, and someone whose name will be remembered long after our crop of grey, vain, weathervane politicians will have been forgotten!”
AdrianT

“Didn’t think I would, but reading all these comments…. now I’m welling-up!!

Well done Peter and have a very Happy birthday!

Much respect and love from a Brit in Cambodia! XXX”
Cambodia Guesthouse

“Happy birthday Peter, and many many more of them. The world would have been a poorer place without you and your hard work.”
Rehan

“As a gay man of a similar generation to Peter I have oft admired his words and actions in so many places and at so many times. I have done nothing in comparison yet try to my bit to gain equality for us homosexuals in today’s society. Imagine my delight in learning I am going to meet him at last when we both speak at the Milton Keynes LGBT conference later this month. Listening to him will be the highlight of my endeavours for equality of acceptance for all.”
Cliverobert

“I don’t always agree with Peter Tatchell but recognise that he does in the most part, incredible work and most importantly to make a difference to others.”
Jock S. Trap

“Let’s be clear on this; Peter is an angel sent from heaven and we all owe him a huge debt of gratitude. He’s an amazeballs kind of guy but can’t do it all himself – he needs help! Please visit the foundation website at http://www.petertatchellfoundation.org to see how you can help. Money’s always good!”
Patrick McCann

“A true hero. Your passion, courage, tenacity and determination are inspirational and something to behold, Peter.

Happy Birthday! I salute you!!!”
Samuel B.

“Well done Peter, your work has been inspiring, Happy Birthday.”
Anthony Garrett

“Thank you Peter for being brave enough to say what needed to be said on all those occasions. Ignore the haters…like you always have done…even they have the right to their opinions.
Happy Birthday Peter”
Shane

“Like him or not he has done more for us than most.

Happy Birthday Peter”
Barry

“A few years back at a management grooming day we were asked to say who our heroes or roll models were. Most said Thatcher or Churchill or the like but I stood out as “not one of us” because I said Peter Tatchell. He still is one of my heroes. I met him at a bi-con many years ago when biphobia was worse in the gay community than the straight. He was one of the speakers and he showed his humanity and kindness as well as his fight against all forms of prejudice no matter the source.”
Dave

“Peter Tatchell is certainly an inspiration, a living hero. Any human who believes in speaking out and actively fighting against all forms of discrimination is indeed a human after my own heart. Happy 60th Birthday Peter, if only there were more like you who believe a better world is possible, a better world would no longer be a dream but a reality. Thanks for your selfless service to humanity, humanity is blessed to have you and we do hope to have you with us much more longer, long enough for you to enjoy the fruits of your labour.”
Yemisi Ilesanmi

“Peter, you have given hope, courage and help to the LGBT Community world wide and you are a shining light in the fight for LGBT rights all over the world. I salute you Peter. May you become Lord Peter.”
 Wildseas

Writing these lines, I was trying to remember on which occasion I first heard about Peter Tatchell. I cannot remember simply because in the last 45 years Peter has been on all the fronts. His early campaigns with the Gay Liberation Front, with Outrage!, but also his citizen’s arrest of despotic Robert Mugabe put him on all the fronts. He took part in every fight. Even in Eastern Berlin when he organized the first Rainbow March behind the Iron Curtain in 1973 Berlin.

Peter is a visionary. He has this capacity to understand how to take a problem and drive the maximum public attention to it in order to make the society think and force the politicians to address it. A recent example is the campaign “Equal Love” he launched for the opening of same sex marriage in the UK. Finally, the government agreed to review the definition of marriage and open it to same-sex couples.

Peter reached the status of an icon without compromising and by keeping his independence. As an ally of his own beliefs, he will not support any political force which does not fit in his demands. That made him unique.

And when the Queen recently presented an MBE to an LGBT activist, probably more due to opportunistic reasons rather than agreeing on one name, it did not go to him. But in fact, it could not go to him simply because he would have rejected any such award. In order to avoid a denial, the question was not even asked.

Simultaneously, Peter is the only one of the prominent LGBT activists in the UK who has never been invited at any of Number 10’s LGBT parties. Perhaps because everyone knows that he would be asking questions which could only be answered in the way diplomats usually speak. Neither with yes, nor with no.

I praise him for his anti-establishment attitude.

The man disturbs and that’s how it has to be.

As I always told those who criticize him: Ask people for the name of one LGBT activist, they will name Peter. If you don’t like this fact, do better. If you can simply talk behind the computer instead of acting, then shut up. And for those who do not agree with me, show me what you did. Every man and woman are born with brains, and the excuse that some could be born in London, New York or Russian Siberia is not enough to say “I cannot do anything, I cannot change things”.

Peter is Britain’s best known human rights campaigner and probably the world’s most known LGBT activist thanks to an unstoppable 45 years career behind him. But also thanks to his work.

He will be in all the fights in which he believes and not those which necessarily bring the spotlight. If you haven’t heard of his other plea it is simply because they are not advertised in the media. But you will find his name in those campaigns as well.

Once I discussed with him his work on gays asking asylum in the UK. I told him: “Peter you are helping so many people, you should at least ask them to take part in your public protests in order to increase participation”. To which he replied something like: “I am helping them cause they need help and I cannot force them to go on the streets”.

Some years ago, he declined a pretty nice pay cheque for taking part in Big Brother. His life is packed with campaigns and ideas. His only luxury is probably his bicycle.

What’s so amazing is not just many of his actions, it’s the fact that he is a man who keep showing up. In the LGBT community, activists often come and leave relatively quickly. They rarely stay long especially when they are very active. Actually, it’s a fair point. One cannot ask people to dedicate their entire life for a cause. This is not what pays the utilities bills and the rent.

Peter could have for sure got one of those very well paid job in one of the Gay Inc. NGO but he would never want to lose his independence of mind and his revolutionary attitude. Once someone pays, you get dependent on sponsors. In a way, you become the fool in the hands of a few rather than the one who keeps the hand on the agenda.

There are too few activists who can lead changes in the society and Peter is one of them.

But there are downsides. It is not easy. The fame earned is not much and often more counterproductive. It weights nothing compared to the hits you get. You cannot be energized by this. It is nothing.

Peter is kind of well trained and well experienced machine. With him, there is always a plan A, a plan B and a plan C. And if that’s not enough, he will figure out quickly how to organize a plan D. Press Release will go and immediate attention of media will be required – if not imposed. In all simplicity.

I treasure dearly the chance I had to meet him. And I will always remember it. I always live with the principle not to become a fan of someone, not to make someone my own hero. I want to be myself as only like that people can move this world forward. But I must admit that Peter’s life and activism influenced me the most in my own life and fights.

We met in July 2005 during the London Gay Pride march and our story started from this moment as I introduced him to the initiative I had put together to organize the First Moscow Pride Festival in May 2006. He accepted to give his support to this event from Day 1. And he always answered positively to all our invitations to Moscow since then. His support has always been unconditional and complete. Even after he was severely injured in 2007 in Moscow – severely beaten by a skinhead while taking part to our second attempt to organize a Pride March. But he came back. In the last 6 years, he missed only 1 year.

Peter is very strong in his spirits but he is also very simple. He dedicates all his time to his fights. I hardly remember having a chance of sipping vodka or having a normal full dinner at a restaurant with him in all the years I have known him.

I will never forget him sleeping on the billiard table during Moscow Pride before the Eurovision Song contest in Moscow in May 2009. There was no spare bed but he did not mind as soon as after this short sleep he could again wake up and fight for a better world.

Peter is a simple and true hero.

Nearly thirty years after his victory over Peter Tatchell at the 1983 Bermondsey by-election, Hughes sends a message for the human rights campaigner.

Peter,

Happy birthday and congratulations.

You deserve widespread thanks and appreciation for your relentless campaigning against discrimination and for the rights of gay and lesbian people and others, not just in this country but around the world. Your brave and principled opposition to authoritarian and illiberal regimes such as Russia and Zimbabwe have been models of political protest and powerful direct action.

Your commitment to a sustainable environmental future and political reform as well as to social justice is something you know we share.

It is a privilege to be your member of parliament and great that you have continued to live at the Elephant and Castle. I hope there will be many occasions in the future when we can work together for a more just world, as there have been in the last three decades.

Yours sincerely,
Simon 

Having been a constant voice for equality and a thorn in the side of the establishment since he arrived in Britain over forty years ago, the political tide has moved with Mr Tatchell and he has been hailed as a national treasure.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has praised him as “a tireless campaigner against homophobia, racism and sexism and for civil liberties and social justice”, and that violent opposition never “bullied him into silence”.

Stephen Fry wrote a message to Peter Tatchell this morning in his inimitable style.

Below, figures from public life share with PinkNews.co.uk their messages to Peter Tatchell on his 60th birthday:

“Happy Birthday, Peter, and thank you for your magnificent stubbornness and refusal to just go away, as many people, on all sides of the political divide, would have liked you to have done. You’ve changed our world for the better.”
- Simon Callow

“Peter is a whirlwind of energy pursuing change with dignified impatience, and total resistance to the power of human rights abusers. He recognises no barriers in the pursuit of human rights, and is a shining example in giving a voice to those who cannot or will not be heard. We have occasionally disagreed, but we have always been united in our commitment to the absolute universality of human rights. I look forward to his next 60 years!”
- Michael Cashman MEP

“He has the roar of a lion and the purr of a kitten.”
- Lt Dan Choi

“Happy Birthday Peter, you’re a campaigner like no other who has dedicated your life to support causes you are passionate in regardless of who you might upset along the way. That dedication is inspiring for me and I’m sure many others. While I don’t agree with everything you say, I respect every word because I know that without your bravery and determination the freedoms we enjoy today would not quite be the same.

“Thank you too so much for the support and assistance that you have given me and all of the team over the almost seven years since PinkNews was first conceived.”
- Benjamin Cohen, Channel 4 Technology Correspondent and PinkNews.co.uk founder

“I stand in awe of Peter Tatchell. Most of us just sit and talk about things, but he goes out and actually does them. Not just for the gay community, but for human rights. May he never stop!”
- Russell T Davies

“I warmly congratulate Peter Tatchell on his birthday. There are many years left for campaigning after 60. I know I have just discovered this for myself!”
- Simon Hughes, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats

“The contribution he has given to the fight for LGBT rights over the last 45 years deserved to be recognised and I’m sure that the whole LGBT community will join me today in wishing Peter a fantastic 60th Birthday.”
- Stephen Gilbert MP

“Happy Birthday to a true star. A man that fights for what he believes in. Long may your hard work continue to pay off. Peter Tatchell, I salute you.”
- Andrew Hayden Smith

“Pride London would like to wish Peter Tatchell a very happy 60th birthday today and take this opportunity to reflect on his tireless campaigning, especially for LGBT rights.

“Peter has brought to the front many issues that have since dominated the world stage. One which made a particular impact on us here at Pride was his exposure of the execution of two gay teenagers in Iran in 2005. Peter refused to accept the official line that the boys were executed for rape and refused to let the international community forget it either.

“It is this passionate dedication to his work, regardless of the personal danger it has put him in, which makes Peter such a unique and vital figure on the gay rights scene. We at Pride have been privileged to work with Peter over the years and number him among our patrons and we hope to continue to do so for many years to come.”
- Pride London

“All of us at Stonewall send Peter our very best wishes on his 60th birthday.”
- Stonewall

“Peter Tatchell is a man who has endlessly campaigned for human rights in all areas of life. He is one of life’s greats, someone who is happy to accept any judgements that others place onto him for the greater good of humanity. A fighter, a brave man and one we can all learn from. Happy Birthday, sir.”
- Will Young