Fiyaz Mughal, the director of non-profit group Faith Matters, argues that a combined ‘hard and soft’ approach should be used to tackle homophobia in Tower Hamlets and east London and that bodies which continue to invite anti-gay speakers should have their funds cut.
The posters that have been plastered around Tower Hamlets, promoting homophobia and discrimination against the LGBT community, are a shocking and sickening reflection of some within our community who choose to promote division and hate. For the last six years, I have been working to develop positive relations between different communities in the UK, and on countering all forms of extremism. The sheer kinds of ignorance, distrust and venom that I have witnessed lead me to conclude that within our communities, there is still a lot of work to do to counter these prejudices. I have seen an increase in anti-Muslim rhetoric, have witnessed anti-Semitism, gender, race and LGBT hate crime and sometimes have had to come face to face with victims in these communities who have been scarred deeply, both physically and mentally. After so long in this sector, I have slowly come to the conclusion that a ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ approach are needed to change mindsets and counter prejudice, particularly where hate is involved.
Author: Pink News
To read more view source: https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/03/21/comment-tower-hamlets-can-lead-the-way-on-tackling-homophobia/