THE folk who run the Kill The Bill Uganda blog are appealing to people to mount a protest against the Oxford Union, which has invited one of the world’s leading gay hate-mongers – US evangelical pastor Scott Lively – to join a debate on gay rights on January 17. Lively, a pastor in Massachusetts, stands accused of “crimes against humanity” for his homophobic activities in Uganda.

THE folk who run the Kill The Bill Uganda blog are appealing to people to mount a protest against the Oxford Union, which has invited one of the world’s leading gay hate-mongers – US evangelical pastor Scott Lively – to join a debate on gay rights on January 17. Lively, a pastor in Massachusetts, stands accused of “crimes against humanity” for his homophobic activities in Uganda.

The blog urges people to:

• Tell everyone you know. Get down there with placards: The Oxford Union, Frewin Court, Oxford, OX1 3JB.

• Write to your MP and representatives of the House of Lords asking them why on earth they have allowed him to enter the country.

• E-mail the Oxford Union: enquiries@oxford-union.org and Tweet them @OxfordUnion to express your concern.

Kill the Bill Uganda said:

The Oxford Union is a bastion of free speech. It’s not a surprise that they would invite Lively. In return, it’s no surprise that opponents of the Kill the Gays bill would object to this. Object, and object loudly.

Meanwhile, Melanie Nathan, Californian Human Rights Commissioner reacted to news of Lively’s impending visit by saying:

Perhaps Maria Rioumine, president@oxford-union.org does not realize that Scott Lively is to the world’s LGBTI community what Hitler was to Jews in the early stages of the Nazi’s anti-Jewish scapegoating and rhetoric.

Lively has been sued by Uganda’s LGBT community in Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) vs Scott Lively, for conspiracy to persecute gays under The Alien Tort Act, in the USA.

She added:

However it is not only this charge, based on ‘crimes against humanity’, that raises the alarm against Oxford Union’s decision to invite this man, but also the credibility of the guest, by virtue of his own suspect writing, the hate speech and lies which stand alone as undesirable and reprehensible.

And she asked:

Does Oxford Union know that it has invited the author of The Pink Swastika, the re-write of history blaming the Holocaust on the Gays, with a Nazi designed website to match? Not to mention The redeeming Rainbow and a Truth Abiding Ministries website that refers to homosexuality as a ‘global threat’.

That this is their choice to debate the issue of gay rights is an absolute travesty … All he can offer such debate is a continuation of lies.

I do not profess to be an expert on UK libel and hate speech laws, however given that such are stringent and not nearly as relaxed as in the USA, I have no doubt that Lively is going to find himself in some hot water. 

The question is what will Oxford Union’s liability be knowing that they have invited a man whose only debate criteria are proven lies and known to be hate speech.

Shame on You Oxford Union for even giving this known liar a voice on your hallowed grounds! Not to mention the other participants who in accepting the invitation seem comfortable giving the likes of Lively a voice, at all!

The title of the debate is “This House Would be Glad to Have Gay Parents”.

Speakers in Proposition:

  • Richard Fairbrass – Gay rights activist and lead vocalist for ‘Right Said Fred’
  • Benjamin Cohen – Technology correspondent for Channel 4 News, and founder of website Pink News
  • Phyll Opoku-Gyimah – Active campaigner for black LGBT communities and co-founder of Black Pride UK

Speakers in Opposition:

  • Winston McKenzie – Spokesman for UK Independence Party;  former amateur boxing champion
  • Scott Lively – US Attorney, author & campaigner
  • Peter D Williams – Spokesperson for Catholic Voices & member of pro-life campaign group Right to Life