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JohnK Feel free to share your responses from any police complaints you have made today surounding this news item.
1 year ago

Stu I have contacted Lothian & Borders Police and they are considering whether there is a hate crime .... I will keep you updated on here ...
1 year ago

JohnK Excellent - look forward to more news as it emerges - Thanks
1 year ago

Jonpol what a dolt... I mean Gracie, not you... eh, eh
1 year ago

Stu absolutely
1 year ago

Stu LBP are linking this matter to another incident near the Scottish Parliament and are actively investigating with a view to submitting a file for consideration by the Procurator Fiscal for prosecution, according the the latest contact I had from a senior officer in LBP this morning
1 year ago

Stu This is some of the response I have had so far from the BBC: Can I begin by apologising if you were offended by the opinions of Rev James Gracie a representative of the Free Church of Scotland Continuing who took part on last Thursday’s programme discussing the issue of Same Sex Marriage. Having reviewed the programme I hope I can answer your questions. The nature of our programme means that there will always be a broad spectrum of opinions offered on any one subject and although it is never our intention to broadcast opinions that will cause hurt or offence, the fact that we are a live radio show without any sort of delay on our contributors, occasionally something may be said that we could not have expected. This was certainly the case with Rev Gracie and his comment “If the homosexuals and these people want to be treated… then what about paedophiles what about polygamy” If you listen again to the programme, Kaye correctly, steps in immediately and stops that line of conversation saying to him: “James, James, James Stop. Paedophilia is an illegal act. Polygamy in this country is an illegal act. Homosexuality is not and that is the distinction that we need to draw” and she moves on to the next caller. It is a very clear and strong rebuttal of this opinion. Later in the programme a caller made the point that if this was on the grounds of race the argument would be completely different and the Rev Gracie responds by suggesting that race isn’t the same as it is “a lifestyle choice and that different people choose to do different things. Some people chose to steal. People have tendencies for all sorts of things.” At this point another contributor, Scottish Equality Network policy co-ordinator Tom French, accuses Rev Gracie of “comparing gay people to paedophiles and thieves” to which Rev Gracie replies “No I didn’t what I said was 30 or 40 years ago homosexuality was not accepted it would be unthinkable for civil partnership let alone comparing it to marriage. The trouble is what is illegal today can become legal tomorrow.” At this point Tom French intervenes to make exactly that point and to say that like racism, attitudes have to change for the next generation of Scots. Again a strong and pointed rebuttal which was then strengthened by Kaye’s next caller Katie who was a young practising Catholic who spoke against Rev Gracie and her own church’s views on Same Sex marriage. Overall the balance of the programme was a fairly even split of opinion.
1 year ago

Jonpol Thanks Stu, this explains how the program really is 'live' and that there is no way to foresee what a loose canon like Gracie could come out with. Still, it's disappointing, as always, to hear uninformed people in position of authority drawing a parallel between pedophilia and homosexuality.
1 year ago

oatc Gracie was not some unexpected telephone caller but an invited guest, which means the BBC pre-approved him making comments. It seems unlikely they did that without knowing how far he goes in his views. Indeed he was probably invited to "balance" the views of Tom French. But equating LGB people with thieves and pedophiles is not balancing an advocate of access to established human rights; theft and pedophilia are rightly illegal and being a same-sex couple is not, and has not been for decades. So the problem is the BBC's idea of balance, and their responsibility to ensure balance. . They wrongly see even the most putrid homophobia as part of balance in human rights debate. And it is part of a general problem they have in setting up all human rights debates - similar problems are apparent when they stage debates on the right to die, for example. And it is very often members of the same cliques who are invited to contribute and make those odious assertions. Quite clearly they are in fact taking advantage of the BBC's policy in order to smear people, on the grounds that some of it, in the minds of some listeners or viewers, will stick. . Thus the BBC, in making those invitations, probably only thinking of making "entertaining" programmes, is complicit in promoting hatred, when it has a legal responsibility to do the very opposite, and should, under the Equality Act have had a public sector duty to promote equality. But unfortunately it, and Channel Four, got itself excused, for no stated reason, and with no debate, despite my best efforts.
1 year ago

JohnK oatc !!! - this is a LGBT website, in what way should homophobia not be an important issue tha needs regular monitoring?
2 years ago

oatc !!!! to you too. Did you not read my comment before responding?
1 year ago

JohnK Any experts on Leoardo da Vinci ?
2 years ago

JohnK Thanks Jonpol . . . looks like an interesting article, I will take a look at it.
2 years ago

JohnK New Forum topic - - - Gay Marriage Paedophilia - Says Scottish church Minister
1 year ago

Pagan Here's a link about this awful novel! http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=14006
2 years ago

Pagan One more link! http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/8863608.BALLOT__Gay__Jesus_can_cure_you___new_book/
2 years ago

JohnK Hi Pagan, thanks - I will take a look.
2 years ago