The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has warmly welcomed the election of Ken Livingstone MP as London Mayor.
GALHA spokesperson George Broadhead commented: “This will obviously come as very bad news for New Labour’s hierarchy and the likes of Michael Cashman, the gay Labour MEP and Stonewall supporter, who (in the run-up to the mayoral election) accused Livingstone of ‘gesture politics’ and blamed him for the introduction of Section 28. However, judging from Livingstone’s track record on lesbian and gay rights and his stance on Humanism, we regard his election as very good news indeed.
“Livingstone’s gay-friendly credentials were firmly established during his leadership of the Greater London Council in the 1980s. Among many instances of practical support for the London lesbian and gay community at that time, the GLC backed and funded the London Lesbian and Gay Centre and provided free space in County Hall for a Lesbian and Gay Winter Fayre co-sponsored by GALHA and the Campaign for Homosexual Equality. Livingstone has also demonstrated his commitment to Humanist values by becoming a supporter of the British Humanist Association and the Parliamentary Humanist Group.
“We are confident that Livingstone will address gay and Humanist concerns during his term of office.”