- Conference
- 2004 National Lesbian & Gay Conference
- Date
- 30 July 2004
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes with grave concern that in July 2000, Kent County Council banned the publishing, purchasing or distributing of material which “promote gay lifestyles” in its 600 schools, in anticipation of the repeal of Section 28 in England and Wales. It is unfortunate that since the repeal of Section 28 in England and Wales late in 2003, Kent County Council has not either voluntarily agreed, or been forced, to repeal this policy.
Conference also notes the election in July 2004 in which Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, leader of Kent County Council – and instrumental in the creation of that Council’s ‘section 28’ policy – was elected unopposed to the position of chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA).
Conference has serious doubts that a man with this track record on LGBT rights and with a string of notorious quotes such as [he is] “fed up with the trendy modernisers, apologisers and the politically correct who try to force their views on to the British silent majority”, is a suitable candidate for this high profile position, or indeed any position.
He has also been praised by Ann Widdecombe MP for his stance over asylum seekers.
Conference therefore instructs the National Lesbian and Gay Committee to:
1.Consult with the Local Government Service Group to prepare for actions to campaign and lobby for the repeal of this policy in Kent;
2.Write to Sandy Bruce-Lockhart as the leader of Kent County Council requesting the immediate repeal of this policy;
3.Write to Sandy Bruce-Lockhart as the chair of the LGA to seek assurances that the Association will not attempt to encourage other local authorities to adopt similar policies, and to state his Association’s commitment to LGBT equality;
4.To liaise with Kent County branch, Kent County Council’s Rainbow Group for LGBT workers, Outrage! and the Queer Youth Alliance on this issue.