British Justice Minister Takes On Homophobes

Seven Years For Anti-Gay Speech?

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British politico Jack Straw’s mulling harsh sentences for inciting homo hatred:

People convicted of stirring up hatred against homosexuals face up to seven years in jail under a new law.

Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, told MPs that existing prohibitions against race and religious incitement would be extended to cover ”homo-phobic” behavior.

His statement prompted fears among Christian organizations that they could be prosecuted for preaching that homosexuality was wrong.

Mr Straw said he would amend the Criminal Justice Bill to make it unlawful to use threatening words or behaviour on the grounds of sexual orientation.

“It is a measure of how far we have come as a society in the last 10 years that we are now appalled by hatred and invective directed at people on the basis of their sexuality,” he added.

Will this proposed law actually curb anti-gay speech or will it only lead to further resentment? We fear the latter…

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