Tag Archives: admiral duncan

This is a key moment in history – we must support all the oppressed and victimised

By Simon Lepori | Tue 16th June 2020 - 10:00 am

I have felt numb over the past few weeks, shocked that police could act in the way they did in the United States, but then worried as the Black Lives Matter debate took hold in the United Kingdom. Not worried about the protests – it is our democratic right to protest and question, even during a pandemic. But I was worried about what this would mean for the wider equality debate.

I am an openly homosexual white man, I state that because I am well aware of my privilege, my social scorecard only reducing when people realise that I am more effeminate and then gay. I have known ignorance and bigotry for most of my adult life, and, yes, it does still exist within our Liberal Democrat party.

I grew up with Section 28 wrapped around my neck, preventing holistic age-appropriate sexual education to take place, but, more importantly, protection from educators in my school environment. I felt constantly worried and sometimes terrified about going into school, with my teachers unable to discuss the root of my feelings. I remained ‘closeted’ until I went to university in 1999. However, I still struggled and only embraced myself after I turned 20. I am proud of who I am and what I am – something that still, to this day, many in the LGBT-plus community struggle with.

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged black lives matter, eu referendum and section 28 | 4 Comments

Marking 20 years since the London bombings.

By The Voice | Tue 30th April 2019 - 6:37 pm

At this exact moment 20 years ago, the third of three nail bombs in two weeks exploded in London. The Admiral Duncan was deliberately targeted in a homophobic hate crime. Three people lost their lives and many more were injured. The attack followed on from two others, in Brixton and Brick Lane, which targeted black and Bangladeshi people.

The racist, homophobic murderer was arrested shortly after and eventually sentenced to life imprisonment.

The BBC has interviews with some of the survivors.

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral Candidate Siobhan Benita summed up her feelings in this tweet:

Today, 20 years on, we remember everyone killed or injured in the horrific London nail bombings.The senseless attacks were driven by racism and homophobia. We must all stand united against such hatred where it sadly remains evident today. #AdmiralDuncan https://t.co/Xqe36CKpRl

— Siobhan Benita 🔶 (@SiobhanBenita) April 30, 2019