People forget what equality means.  It means equal.

Many strands of diversity are reaching towards equality like race and disability but sexuality and transgender are way behind and have only been protected recently in law.

We need to make sure that the agenda for equality for LGBT people is not forgotten or that we are given a watered down version of the protection – which supports the idea that LGBT people are not as important.

This is not equality.  I am black and gay but is my race more important than my sexuality?  No. I need to be protected in law for both my race and sexuality.

Religion has been the cause of many wars, bigotry, hatred and many terrible crimes have done in the name of religion, but at the end of the day religion is just a set of beliefs and nothing else.

Why should religious groups have more protection and exceptions in laws?

This would only help them avoid taking responsibility for their action and give them a licence to use prejudice against minority groups.

I have a set of religious or spiritual beliefs that I share with others but I do not have the right to use them to persecute other minority groups or spread hatred or killing of these groups.

I believe that equality should include LGBT people and religious groups should not been allowed to be exempt from any new laws re equality.

The LGBT community and even in Unions, can divide equality by forgetting or putting to the back of list BME, disability and trans issues. This can become a double discrimination when trying to push the needs of minority groups within a minority larger group.

Feb 2012 Jay ©