The Government have said that criticising homosexual conduct or encouraging people to refrain from such conduct is not, in itself, a crime.
That is the good news, but they have been using this as a reason to remove free speech protection in sexual orientation ‘hatred’ law. The Government say that it is not necessary, insisting that the ‘homophobic hatred’ offence would not catch the expression of such beliefs.
The House of Lords however has defeated the Government over it’s attempt to repeal this free speech protection from a sexual orientation ‘hatred’ law. Peers voted by 186 to 133 to keep the protection in place.
Several members of the House of Lords were concerned about incidents of Christians being challenged by the police because of their beliefs on sexual ethics.
“Genuine supporters of free speech will be pleased with this result. Democracy depends on the freedom of people to challenge ideas, to dispute with each other, to contend for what they believe. Too many Christians have already been intimidated by over-zealous police action because they gave voice to their views on sexual ethics. Surely the world is big enough to allow all sides to express their beliefs about sexual behaviour without fearing a knock on the door from the police.”
Mike Judge, Head of Communications at The Christian Institute.
Apparently, Blackadder star Rowan Atkinson is in favour of keeping the free speech protection, as are several prominent homosexuals including journalist Matthew Parris, comedian Christopher Biggins and ‘gay rights’ activist Peter Tatchell.
When people say that Christians commit ‘hate crimes’ when they say that the homosexual is not the way God intended man to live and that it is against the Bible they have completely missed why Christians would say this. Christians say this out of love and concern. Even if you think they are wrong, it is not out of hate, but love. Sometimes in love you have to say things that are hard or even hurtful, ‘Smoking Kills’, ‘You must wear a seatbelt in a car’ etc.
Allow us the right to care.
