- Conference
- 2010 National LGBT Conference
- Date
- 29 July 2010
- Decision
- Carried
Conference is alarmed at the emergence of the English, Scottish and Welsh Defence Leagues.
Conference notes that fascists took power early last century by building legal political parties that engaged in civil society and in constitutional activity like elections but which also included violent mass movements that broke up working class organisation, intimidated activists and harassed Jews.
Conference dismisses the leagues’ claims to be no more than a protest at “Islamist Extremism” and to have no links with the British National Party. Rather, conference believes:
1.They represent a new stage in fascist strategy;
2.Many are hooligans for whom controlling the streets with violence is an end in itself;
3.Their actions frighten and silence Muslims in particular;
And left unchallenged they will become a threat to:
A.Our safety and visibility as lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people;
B.Our capacity to organise as trades unionists; and,
C.The solidarity of our society and its racial harmony.
Conference considers that:
I.The leagues’ demonstrations must never go unchallenged; but,
II.To be effective these challenges must win widespread support so we outnumber them not they us; to do so they must be safe, legal, peaceful, democratic leadership, be broad-based and offer visibility and a voice to all who take part.
Conference instructs the National LGBT Committee
a.Seek to win understanding of the leagues’ significance and the need to challenge them;
b.Raise with the National Executive Council the need to do likewise; and,
c.Promote support for counter-demonstrations subject to the committee’s discretion to qualify its support depending on local circumstances.
Conference calls upon branch and regional LGBT groups and upon members to work with their branches and regions and with trades union councils to organise effective opposition to the English, Scottish and Welsh Defence Leagues and to assert that the best kind of league to defend us all is a trades union.