Peter Tatchell attacks Muslim journalist!

Gay Action Media Watch | 11.01.2006 03:05 | Gender | Birmingham | London

Gay human rights and gay rights activist Peter Tatchell has joined the condemnation of Muslim journalist Adam Yosef following deeply offensive comments made by the latter in national Asian newspaper Desi Xpress.

Peter Tatchell has condemned the Desi Xpress article

Desi Xpress is a national newspaper read by many Muslims

Adam Yosef is a columnist for Desi Xpress

Peter Tatchell supports Gay Media Watch journalist campaign

BRITISH gay and human rights activist Peter Tatchell has expressed his support for a campaign attacking a Muslim journalist from Birmingham, accused of pandering to homophobia.

The Gay Action Media Watch group launched a campaign against the 24-year-old columnist for national Asian newspaper Desi Xpress after he described same-sex marriages as a front for tax fraud.

In a December issue of the tabloid newspaper (Issue 42), which specialises in Asian entertainment, Mr Yosef stated: "Hmmm...gay weddings... Gay people and committment? I don't think so... They'll be shagg*ng the neighbours before they even cut the cake. Bad idea I'm afraid. Great way of evading tax though..."

GAMW was deeply offended by these comments and alerted numerous gay organisations as a result. It was felt that feeding such views to the younger Asian and Muslim population would encourage and incite homophobia in communities where it is already difficult to be openly homosexual - lesbian or gay. What horrified Gay Action Media Watch the most was that such views would come from someone who also writes for the BBC.

Stewart C Dawson, of Gay Action Media Watch, said: "It is hard for members of the gay community to fight the bigotry and intolerance in our society. It's evident that this is even harder for members of the ethnic community who have greater difficulty with acceptance due to religious and cultural pressures from the family.

"It is therefore expected that the younger generations will help us pave the way for a fairer society, yet, even today we have unacceptable bigotry and hate against gay people eminating from the words of young Muslims who themselves see nothing wrong with enjoying pre-marital sex and a modern lifestyle, yet still promote a hatred a the LGBT community.

Regarding journalist Adam Yosef's reference to same-sex partnerships, which have recently become llegal in Britain, this kind of journalism is offensive and unacceptable and not only demonises the gay community but panders to ridiculous stereotypes. We demand a retraction and full apology from the publication and author."

Peter Tatchell, an internationally renown gay and human rights activist, congratulated GAMW on its effort saying, "You are right to challenge this." He went on to describe the campaign against columnist Adam Yosef as "an excellent initiative to challenge homophobia."

Members of the LGBT community have expressed their support by complaining to the Press Complaints Commission. Some of the members who contacted Mr Yosef himself have received shocking and deeply offensive replies. In the most recent issue of the newspaper (Issue 45), Mr Yosef has attacked gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, describing him as "vile" and "bigoted" and placing him alongside Nick Griffin of the BNP and Omar Bakri Mohammed of Al-Muhajiroun in a 'wall of shame' feature.

GAMW contacted Mr Yosef, who previously worked at the controversial Birmingham Central Mosque, but have not yet received a reply. Mr Yosef is a member of George Galloway's Respect party. Peter Tatchell has previously criticised the Respect Party of having links with homophobic representatives of fundamentalist Islamic organisations (see links below).

NOTES:

Please contact:
Peter Tatchell:

peter@tatchell.freeserve.co.uk -
www.petertatchell.net - www.outrage.org.uk (Peter Tatchell's articles)
Adam Yosef:

adam@urbanmedialtd.com - Tel: 0871 990 7730
Desi Xpress Editor:

reena@urbanmedialtd.com - Tel: 0871 990 7730
www.desixpress.co.uk

Forum and initial complaint alert:

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/330845.html

Adam Yosef:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Yosef
Peter Tatchell:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Tatchell

Asians in Media Forum:

http://www.asiansinmedia.org/forum/general/topic.php/7527/index.html
Gay.com:

http://uk.gay.com/boards/read.php?f=5&i=19396&t=19396
USA:

http://indymedia.us/en/2006/01/13364.shtml
Sir Iqbal Sacranie's gay-bashing:

http://uk.gay.com/headlines/9434

Thank you.

Gay Action Media Watch
e-mail: gaymediawatch@yahoo.co.uk

Comments

Hide the following 12 comments

Respect

11.01.2006 06:25

There have been differences of opinion between Respect and some other groups over the issue of how to deal with homophobia, but the constitution of the organisation is clear about its commitment to equality and its opposition to social hatred. As a member of a Respect branch, I shall be urging all my colleagues to press Mr Yosef for a full, unequivoicable apology or expulsion from the party. Respect stands for universal human rights. If Mr Yosef cannot abide by that basic principle, then there are plenty of reactionary groups he can join.

Dave

Plenty of reactionary groups

11.01.2006 10:08

Yes, for instance, he can go join the Muslim Association of Britain, senior partner in the Respect coalition, noted for their modern attitudes and complete lack of homophobia. Not.

http://www.petertatchell.net/religion/qaradawi.htm

As a member of a Respect branch, shall you also be urging all your principled Trot colleagues to quit linking up with reactionary groups like the MAB? Shall you be urging the SWP to quit shacking up with right-wing homophobes for temporary electoral gain?

More attacks on free speech and a free press

11.01.2006 11:03

A new inquisition is being created by certain elements in the gay community to censors those who refuse to accept the new social orthodoxy, not on the basis of objective facts or a democratic mandate, but because of the dictates of self appointed moral guardians like Tatchell and GMW.

Repeating the same story on Indymedia does not excuse the fact that these would be 21st century Toquemadas still believe they have a right to censor the opinions of others and are a clear threat to free speech and a free press. Nor are Tatchell and GMW picking a fight with a real homophobe, like Garry Bushell, but a young Muslim journalist who in the past has written very favourable articles on Pride. What kind of agenda is it that ignores Bushell, who speaks to the majority, and picks on Youseff, who speaks to a minority? However, this assault on the principle of press freedom has already appeared on Indymedia under a different guise.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/330845.html

What next the Bible or Koran according to Peter Tatchell? Or are you going to put God or Judaism on trial for homophobia?

If you have to choose between a moral prig and free speech, I choose free speech, because you may be offended but at least you know what is really going on.

Still seems bloody odd though that Respect is willing to expelling Youseff for bitchiness but not George Galloway for skiving, is this just a Birmingham double act?

Bermondsey Bill

is it possible to disagree with homosexuality without being homophobic?

11.01.2006 12:10

as a left wing religious person i disagree with homosexuality on religious grounds. why cant i have that view? I do not advocate violence, but simply that it is immoral according to the morality i believe in. you believe in a different morality, and force your morality on everyone else. it is clear that there is latent authoritarianism everywhere on the left, not least among those who claim to be the most libertarian.

campus

Bushell and a peck...

11.01.2006 12:29

Bushell? Didn't he get the axe years ago? And he was the target of gay activists when he still had a column in The Sun.

Bermonsey Bill throws in irrelevancies. The fact that Yosef is "a young Muslim journalist" is clearly irrelevant to the statements he made and it is a ridiculous excuse. What does his age and religion have to do with the substance of his comments?

I find it quite remarkable that on days when gays are the target of bigotted rants its "free speech" day on Indymedia, but on other days its "no platform for fascists".

Qwerty

God Bless Jesus

11.01.2006 13:45

Hey Bermondsey Bill, i agree with your comments:

"What next the Bible or Koran according to Peter Tatchell? Or are you going to put God or Judaism on trial for homophobia?"

Have you read the Bible recently?

As a good Christian it is my duty go out out and stone to death all homosexuals, astrologers and people who engage in bestiality (as well as the offending animal).

It says that in the Bible, killing gays is the moral duty of every Christian, if you don't believe me read the old Testament, escpecially Leviticus.

Bible Basher.

Bible Basher

Tatchell jumps on the Islamophobic bandwagon - again!

11.01.2006 22:07

Hi All

I am some what concerned about Peter Tatchell’s jumping on the on the bandwagon to condemn Adam Yosef column in a recent addition of Desi Xpress.

In his column Adam makes a rather lame joke that is undeniable based on a stereo-type about gay men: "Hmmm...gay weddings... Gay people and commitment? I don't think so... They'll be shagg*ng the neighbours before they even cut the cake. Bad idea I'm afraid. Great way of evading tax though..."

This mildly annoying remark inspires Tatchell to issue a press release issued today (11/1/2006). In it Tatchell says, rather pompously: “We demand a retraction and full apology from the publication and author."

The trouble is that Adam and Desi Xpress already has! Yesterday in fact (see below)

Official statement from Adam Yosef

RE: Complaints of homophobia in the Adam Yosef column
It has come to my attention that members of the LGBT community have expressed concerns about comments made by myself regarding same-sex partnerships. In relation to the comments featured in my Desi Xpress column dated December 9th-15th 2005, Issue 42, in which I presented my own personal opinions on the new civil partnerships, I can assure all Desi Xpress readers and members of the LGBT community that no offence was intended. My remarks were not of a homophobic nature as claimed but rather opinions, which could have equally applied to the heterosexual community. They were not intended as an attack on the LGBT community but rather a genuine observation of domestic relationships, homosexual or heterosexual. However, in light of recent concerns, and to ensure the comments are not misunderstood or responsible for any further offence, I would like to take this opportunity to fully retract the statements made in my column in Issue 42 of Desi Xpress regarding same-sex partnerships and offer a full apology to all of our readers, members of the LGBT community and anyone else who may have been offended by it. As a further note, I would like to state that neither I, nor Desi Xpress as a publication, are in any way homophobic or prejudice and we do not promote, propagate or share a hatred for any community, group or individual based on race, age, ethnicity, belief, sexual orientation, gender or ability. Desi Xpress has regularly featured events and stories of interest and related to the LGBT community including coverage of Birmingham Pride Weekend, LGBT club listings and LGBT personals listings. I hope this statement clears up any misunderstanding regarding the content of my column.

Thank you.
Adam Yosef

You would have thought that someone like Tatchell would check his facts!

Moreover there are a number of issues around this case that give me cause for concern:

1) This issue was first brought to wider public attention by Gay Action Media Watch (who every they are) in a press release issue on 5/1/2006 under the rather Islamophobic by-line: “A UK Muslim journalist has attacked gay people by suggesting same-sex couples have no concept of commitment and that the only benefit to gay marriages is tax evasion”. A stereo-type compounded by comment that “It's evident that this is even harder for members of the ethnic community who have greater difficulty with acceptance due to religious and cultural pressures from the family.”

2) What GAMW omit to say is that Desi Xpress has a proven positive track record on LGBT issues. As Adam’s apology points out Desi Xpress not only covered Birmingham Pride, but regularly gives lgbt club and personal listings.

3) Furthermore In the context of rather more vicious attacks from more widely read journals, such as the Daily Express, why pick on Desi Xpress and Adam Yusef? The Express has run a story trying to present the word “marriage” being dropped from registry offices as apparently so as to not “offend homosexuals”. “Marriage Suites” will now be called “Ceremony Suites”, apparently to stop lesbian and gay couples feeling neglected. Like Tatchell the Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe failed to check her facts and rather stupidly to claimed the change is “political correctness gone mad.” However, the real reason why some offices have made the change is that these rooms are now to host not only marriages and civil partnerships, but citizenship ceremonies as well.

4) Perhaps the reason why Tatchell and GAMW prioritise Adam Yusef above the Daily Express is that Adam is a) a Muslim and b) is a member of Respect.

All the best
Richard Farnos

Richard Farnos
mail e-mail: Farnos@London.com

ADAM YOSEF ISSUES APOLOGY TO GAY COMMUNITY

12.01.2006 02:27

Adam Yosef Desi Xpress column

Muslim journalist Adam Yosef, who crudely attacked gay partnerships, describing them as a front for tax fraud, has apologised to the LGBT community and withdrawn his comments.

The apology and retraction was supported by weekly Asian publication Desi Xpress for which Mr Yosef writes a weekly column. The homophobic comments were featured in Issue 42 of Desi Xpress, published in December 2005.

Gay Action Media Watch launched a campaign against Mr Yosef and we have been successful in our mission to curtail homophobia in media targeting young ethnic minority groups.

However, we regret that no apology has been issued regarding Adam Yosef's column in the current edition of Desi Xpress (Issue 45) which features human rights and gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell alongside Nick Griffin of the BNP and Omar Bakri Mohammed of Al Muhajiroun, describing them all as 'vile' and as 'bigots'. We hope to support Peter Tatchell in any subsequent response.

Our initial complaint and campaigns are here:

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/330845.html

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331187.html
and featured on various other forums within.

Adam Yosef and Desi Xpress' response and official statement can be found here:

http://www.desixpress.co.uk and is reproduced below:

"Official statement from Adam Yosef

RE: Complaints of homophobia in the Adam Yosef column

It has come to my attention that members of the LGBT community have expressed concerns about comments made by myself regarding same-sex partnerships.

In relation to the comments featured in my Desi Xpress column dated December 9th-15th 2005, Issue 42, in which I presented my own personal opinions on the new civil partnerships, I can assure all Desi Xpress readers and members of the LGBT community that no offence was intended.

My remarks were not of a homophobic nature as claimed but rather opinions, which could have equally applied to the heterosexual community. They were not intended as an attack on the LGBT community but rather a genuine observation of domestic relationships, homosexual or heterosexual.

However, in light of recent concerns, and to ensure the comments are not misunderstood or responsible for any further offence, I would like to take this opportunity to fully retract the statements made in my column in Issue 42 of Desi Xpress regarding same-sex partnerships and offer a full apology to all of our readers, members of the LGBT community and anyone else who may have been offended by it.

As a further note, I would like to state that neither I, nor Desi Xpress as a publication, are in any way homophobic or prejudice and we do not promote, propagate or share a hatred for any community, group or individual based on race, age, ethnicity, belief, sexual orientation, gender or ability.

Desi Xpress has regularly featured events and stories of interest and related to the LGBT community including coverage of Birmingham Pride Weekend, LGBT club listings and LGBT personals listings. I hope this statement clears up any misunderstanding regarding the content of my column. Thank you.

Adam Yosef"

[ENDS]

Gay Action Media Watch
mail e-mail: gaymediawatch@yahoo.co.uk

a bigot's a bigot

12.01.2006 21:48

A religous bigot complaining about authoritarianism! It's homophobic dogma mate. And you are a prick.

Are you gonna use the same argument as the NF?

more religious bigots

anti religious bigotry?

13.01.2006 11:55

And are not the left guilty of anti religious bigotry? A bigot is a bigot, be it an atheist one or a religious one. Still, one can believe that something is immoral and not be a bigot....

king

Tatchell is a bigot

31.01.2006 00:41

I am a gay Muslim and I find the comments of Tatchell increasingly Islamophobic. Yosef made no more than a throwaway comment which could be construed as mildy offensive by people who have no sense of humour, like Tatchell. Notice the way that he repeatedly highlights Yosef as a Muslim. I have no doubt that Yosef was picked on simply because of this, even though he has a track record of being gay-friendly. Tatchell fully deserved to be highlighted as a bigot in Yosef's next column, along with the likes of Nick Griffin of the BNP who, like Tatchell, has also declared that Islam is a problem. Yosef also mentioned that Tatchell should pack his bags and go back to Australia if he can't hack it in Britain. I fully agree!

Bilal

tatchell becoming what he hates

04.10.2006 11:29

Peter Tatchell claims to hate bigots but he too is becoming those he hates by consistently targeting Muslims, even those like Adam Yosef who are clearly nowhere near any extreme realms. Smarten up your ideas Tatchell, Islaophobia is just as bad as homophobia!!!

James Q

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