MEP Michael Cashman: “We will help Russian LGBT-community in the European Parliament”
13/02/2006
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By Nikolay Alekseev, Human Rights LGBT Project GayRussia.ru
MEP Michael Cashman: “We will help Russian LGBT-community in the European Parliament”
Nikolai Alekseev met the European Parliament deputy Michael Cashman during the London Gay Pride and asked him a few questions concerning the progress of gay rights in Europe and his position on the status of sexual minorities in Russia. GayRussia.Ru will prepare the Report on the situation of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals for the European Parliament. Below is the interview in full.
G.R.: Why are you here today? What does this pride means for you?
M.C.: I am here today because it’s not only a celebration of the fact that we are ordinary mean and women who are brought together really because we are individuals and states tries to oppress us. So today is a celebration of our sexuality and aspiration for equality and also an issue of solidarity. There may be many people on the side walks who might be lesbian or gay or bisexual and have never come out and to see so many tens of thousands of people marching will get them courage and will give them support and equally we send a signal to countries and cities who do not allow these marches that we exist and we are never going away, we are part of society.
G.R.: Do you think here there is something to do in the law in the UK (NDLR: after passing partnership which will be in force in December 2005) and to progress further equality?
M.C.: Well I think in the UK under the labour government we nearly achieved equality. It has been amazing and as a member of the European parliament and a labour’s national executive I have to say and I am saying that independently I mean we really achieved virtual equality. We’ve got other issues to do around like some issues of supply goods and services, and non discrimination and we are nearly there and again that so important because we send a message to other countries that they have nothing to fear treating their citizens equally.
G.R.: Do you think that gay marriage will ever come everywhere to Europe?
M.C.: Yes and there is no reason for it not to. We are told that marriage and stable relationships are the building blocks of society. if they want a stable society they should encourage people of all sexualities into those stable relationships. And if people want to marriage, I don’t particularly because I’ll have a civil partnership, but why they shouldn’t have it?
G.R.: Do you think the UK will ever change its civil partnership to marriage?
M.C.: Yes.
G.R.: Do you think it will take long time?
M.C.: Sometimes in the UK it’s a bit like teasing an oyster open you have to do it very gradually. One forced move and you’ve lost them. We will get it and I believe that it will be within the next 5 years.
G.R.: European parliament passed many resolutions on HR violations including on Russia and particularly on gay issues. As a European deputy, do you think Parliament can do something for gays and lesbians in Russia?
M.C.: It’s not whether we can. We have to. We will. Not only through our resolutions but with Russia-EU association agreement. There will be a clause on HR and we will point out that that means HR of gay men lesbians and bisexuals. Russia is one of our strongest and most important neighbours and we have to encourage our neighbours for her to respect her citizens. The mother land of Russia needs to treat all her citizens equally and we will push for that. Because what happens to gay men, lesbians and bisexuals whether it’s in Belorussia, or Russia, Croatia, Serbia, India wherever it matters to every single one of us we come a force that cannot be denied.
More information in English on www.gayrussia.ru/en
Nikolai Alekseev met the European Parliament deputy Michael Cashman during the London Gay Pride and asked him a few questions concerning the progress of gay rights in Europe and his position on the status of sexual minorities in Russia. GayRussia.Ru will prepare the Report on the situation of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals for the European Parliament. Below is the interview in full.
G.R.: Why are you here today? What does this pride means for you?
M.C.: I am here today because it’s not only a celebration of the fact that we are ordinary mean and women who are brought together really because we are individuals and states tries to oppress us. So today is a celebration of our sexuality and aspiration for equality and also an issue of solidarity. There may be many people on the side walks who might be lesbian or gay or bisexual and have never come out and to see so many tens of thousands of people marching will get them courage and will give them support and equally we send a signal to countries and cities who do not allow these marches that we exist and we are never going away, we are part of society.
G.R.: Do you think here there is something to do in the law in the UK (NDLR: after passing partnership which will be in force in December 2005) and to progress further equality?
M.C.: Well I think in the UK under the labour government we nearly achieved equality. It has been amazing and as a member of the European parliament and a labour’s national executive I have to say and I am saying that independently I mean we really achieved virtual equality. We’ve got other issues to do around like some issues of supply goods and services, and non discrimination and we are nearly there and again that so important because we send a message to other countries that they have nothing to fear treating their citizens equally.
G.R.: Do you think that gay marriage will ever come everywhere to Europe?
M.C.: Yes and there is no reason for it not to. We are told that marriage and stable relationships are the building blocks of society. if they want a stable society they should encourage people of all sexualities into those stable relationships. And if people want to marriage, I don’t particularly because I’ll have a civil partnership, but why they shouldn’t have it?
G.R.: Do you think the UK will ever change its civil partnership to marriage?
M.C.: Yes.
G.R.: Do you think it will take long time?
M.C.: Sometimes in the UK it’s a bit like teasing an oyster open you have to do it very gradually. One forced move and you’ve lost them. We will get it and I believe that it will be within the next 5 years.
G.R.: European parliament passed many resolutions on HR violations including on Russia and particularly on gay issues. As a European deputy, do you think Parliament can do something for gays and lesbians in Russia?
M.C.: It’s not whether we can. We have to. We will. Not only through our resolutions but with Russia-EU association agreement. There will be a clause on HR and we will point out that that means HR of gay men lesbians and bisexuals. Russia is one of our strongest and most important neighbours and we have to encourage our neighbours for her to respect her citizens. The mother land of Russia needs to treat all her citizens equally and we will push for that. Because what happens to gay men, lesbians and bisexuals whether it’s in Belorussia, or Russia, Croatia, Serbia, India wherever it matters to every single one of us we come a force that cannot be denied.
More information in English on www.gayrussia.ru/en
