British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Denounces Prop 8

The gay community in the United States has a big time ally in British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who called California's Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage, "unacceptable."

This man is my hero.

Brown, who had just returned from a trip to the U.S. to visit President Barack Obama, shared his stance last night during a reception that he and his wife Sarah hosted at 10 Downing Street for LGBT activists.

According to the BBC, Brown criticized Prop 8 as "an attempt to undo the good that has been done. This attempt to create divorces among 18,000 people who were perfectly legally brought together in partnerships, this is unacceptable and shows me why we always have to be vigilant, why we have always got to fight homophobic behavior and any form of discrimination."

Same-sex civil partnerships were legalized in the United Kingdom in 2005 and give gay partners the same tax and inheritance rights that straight married couples enjoy.

While I realize that Brown has no political power here in the U.S., it is heartening to hear a powerful world leader speak out in favor of our rights. Seriously, at a time when it seems like all we hear is bad news, Brown's declaration of support for us definitely made my day.

Are you impressed with Brown for coming out against Prop 8?

(Image courtedy of Getty)

Comments

[Adam]

I always loved Great Britain and this just solidifies it even more. Way to go Gordon!

[Tim]

I have always felt that the European communtiy was ahead of our back woods red kneck ways here in the U.S. The fight must go on for our equal rights. We can never give up. If you are not a member of HRC, please join today.

[Bubbie]

"Backwoods redneck ways."

People in the United States won't accept those different from them PERIOD.
Tim's statement proves that.

"If you don't agree with *ME* then you're wrong."

Thats the mentality that has us where we are. I see just as much hatred and discrimination coming from gays as I do straights.

Gay, Str8, Black, White, rich, poor, country, city.

It's the same thing. Its still here.
I don't see it changing anytime soon.

[Tim #2]

Bubbie...

You're clearly an apathetic, tragically hetero-assimilated gay. You bow down to the vast prejudice, immense oppression and vile slander we are subject to.

In case you didn't get the memo, gay is the new black. The right-wing have their dark eyes set on annihilating gays.

US GAYS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE ANGRY AND LASH OUT. As far as anti-gay hatred from straights (and shameful gays like you, Bubbie): ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. And yes, we will scream, shout and let our voices be heard. We're not gonna take it, anymore...

[Jono]

While I am happy to hear Brown make such a statement it does little lip service when his county couldn't muster up the gusto to call those civil unions marriage.

I think countries like Canada, South Africa, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway have shown more courage in granting marriage - not civil unions - to same-sex couples. It is people like Desmond Tutu, who fight for true EQUAL rights (not just in rights granted but in name as well), I hold in much higher regard.

[Bubbie]

The far right are just as dangerous as the far left, politically.

But I'm not one bit ashamed of who I am. I don't hate gays or anybody else.

Just take a step back, Play devil's advocate for a minute.
Open minded, and look at the entire picture.
It's crystal clear.

All we do in America is throw stones at other people! Blame other people for our own issues.

"My Dad hit me so now I drink!"
"People don't like that I'm gay so I'm going to throw hate back at THEM!"

Ya know, I'm just saying.
acceptance starts with *you*.

It has nothing to do with acting a fool demanding things that you dont have the power to create.

[the_real_sweedie]

Bubbie

Because of the unequal laws here in the U.S. I will be separated from the person I love within four months. Damn right I have the right to be angry...

[Bubbie]

I'm not saying you don't have the right to be angry dude!

Just saying, try and just play devils advocate for a minute, take yourself out of victim role, and angry mode.

Besides, thats BS, nobody can take you away from the person you love unless a.) you're in prison. or b.) you join the military.

Both of those are your choice.
so Thats no ones fault but your own.

[the_real_sweedie]

You forgot, being a foreigner in America and being unable to marry because the laws are unequal. I'm doing everything in my power to stay here, but there's no solution right now.

So, no, it's as far away as being my fault as it can be...

[djword]

I had the priviledge of attending my cousin's civil union ceremony in Britain last year. No nonsense about about marriage or terminology, just simply about two women who love each other making a legal and emotional commitment. It was just the way it should be: legal, emotional ( my cousin's divorced parents stood at her side), loving, and beautiful, surrounded by a loving family and friends.
We deserve every part of this. We must fight and demand our civil rights.

[healthypozfurr]

Firstly, thumbs up to PM Gordon Brown and thank you!
Secondly, I'm half yank-half brit w/ lot's of family in the UK. My mum, who is English is a born-again republican. She keeps her mouth shut though when her family from
England are around. They've told her many times to leave me alone.
Thirdly, there's a line from the movie French Kiss where the concierge at the hotel says "unlike some countries, we're not puritanical hypocrits"I love that sentence. Shame it describes the US perfectly.
Forth, straights/heteros/breeders claim that marriage is for them and it's sanctified. Hmmm, the divorce rate in the US tells a different story! Puritanical Hypcrits indeed!

[Grant]

No matter what the issue, I don't like foreign politicians butting into our own internal affairs. This has nothing to do with relations between the two countries. How would they like it if our president popped off about their national health service? The people of California voted for Prop 8, like it or not. Since it is a state constitutional amendment the only court with the rightful authority to declare it null and void is the U.S. Supreme Court.

[Steven]

You are all totally off base! The issue of Gay Marriage is not an issue of Gay rights, only an issue of acceptance. The fight is not for the rights, else we would take an equal rights legislation called "Domestic Partnerships" This phrase is, UNACCEPTABLE, to most of the "Activists" in our community, simply because they want the "WORD" marriage.

Is this right? I ask you do we fight for the rights equal to marriage? OR the word marriage?

We need to be smarter than the general public, are we too caught up in a sub conscience loop that tells us that we are rejected by them? So we seek the acceptance not given by our past acquaintances.

We need to be smart about this one, if we want the rights equal to straight then we need to not be emotional, but intelligent. We are the minority, accept it, get the rights no matter what they are called, then focus on issues of quality of life, not issues of acceptance.

Another thing: stop being sooooooo freakin one sided on issues!!!

When I worked for the Democratic Party, we recruited Gay and Lesbians, WHY, because they had no families, and they were able to volunteer for up to 13 even 14 hours a day.

We built the Democratic Party and asked for equal rights. in Calif. Grey Davis gave us crumbs. Crumbs!!!

Like a dangling carrot, how many votes do they need to pass equal rights in Calif. They buy a few Republican votes to get what the unions want and the atty's, WHY NOT US? They control Congress and only need 2 Republicans to vote yes on equal Rights. They bought their votes for Corporate bail-out... HOW ABOUT BUYING VOTES FOR THE CAMPAIGN WORKERS THAT DID THE REAL WORK???

Stop being so blind! We have no friends! We are our own family... Do what we need to, for what we need! And then go home and be at peace!!!

Thank You. Steven

[logan]

Many countries from Argentina to England routinely, without a lot of controversy grant rights that we seem a long way from getting on a normal basis. Prop 8 is tragic. Also the New Mexico Legislature struck down civil unions this month because the Roman Catholic Bishops threatened to excommunicate the legislators. Then the Bishop of Santa Fe is trying to help a convicted felon get out of jail time. Felons and Nazi apologists are great and consistent with the church apparently. Constitutional rights for Americans are the enemy for the church organizations are bad.

For too long extreme religion has dominated us, whether its mormons, catholics, or fundsmentalism whack jobs or Rush Limbaugh. We need to ban together and fight!

[Steven]

Logan, you're retarded and emotionally unstable!

[Joey]

I think the British Prime Minister is RIGHT! While it's awesome to see that our community has support from someone in the international community, lets remember that Barack Obama is an awesome ally as well. I would venture to say that he is the MOST LGBT friendly President in American History. I am eager to see if he makes good on some of his campaign promises

[Kevin]

There is not one blog post on this site that isn't filled with fighting in the comments. Go ahead and search the archives. You'll see for yourself.

This is a simple, straight forward article praising the PM for speaking up for the gay community. It's not that complicated. He showed his support, and the author wanted to show appreciation for the gesture.

Why do people have to shred apart even the slightest news of positivity?

[Jason]

Bubbie,

If you read all the posts on here -- and I mean all of them -- it just proves your point.

It's always a "me against the other/foreigner" mentality in this country.

White hates black who hates gay who hates the Christian and on and on... gosh, you would think that someone would have listened to "Everyday People" by Sly and the Family Stone by now. *sigh*

But it's always gonna be like that -- there will always be haters. I haven't seen as intolerant a community as the gay one -- I've had gay black friends be the target of racism within the gay community, friends raped and beaten, etc.

It's a sad say in America when those who scream the loudest for tolerance are among the most intolerant of them all.

[madathlete]

well, the brits have always been gay-friendly. Come on, Oscar Wilde, Michael York and Elton John? Puh-lease. Hopefully, they won;t turn out to be as much of a liar as Obama. He is just breaking promises left and right and it turns out, he doesn't really want any change. Sucks....

[corrective_unconscious]

Bubble > Thats the mentality that has us where we are. I see just as much hatred and discrimination coming from gays as I do straights.

Lyin' fer Jeebus, agan', Cletus. We haven't said str8s can't adopt, marry whom they wish, serve openly in the armed forces or be protected from arbitrary firing. It's clear where the discrimination is coming from: The talibangelicals and constapo.

[James]

Common sense should suggest that ignorance is not exclusive to hetero white males. That in fact there are female bigots, black bigots, gay bigots and probably even black lesbian bigots. It's not a product of the gay community but a product of the human condition. You can hold the attitude that we'll never change and be all EMO about it or you can be part of the solution.

The solution which inspires and elevates people. The solution that triggers our evolution into that progressive beings you know deep down we can all be. That is the choice and that is the hope.

If all you have to contribute to this forum is a pointless rant which has nothing to do with the question even posed by the author of this article then do us and yourself a favor and seek out a therapist who gets paid by the hour to hear your bullshit.

To actually answer the question - I am pleased with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and hope that other world leaders follow suit. The more people in positions of power around the world who act with a sense of compassion and intellect, the better.

[Mark]

Please take a look at these articles if your interested in the relations between him and Obama...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1158395/Seize-moment-Brown-set-make-speech-life-U-S-Congress-muted-reception-Obama.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1159627/To-special-friend-Gordon-25-DVDs-Obama-gives-Brown-set-classic-movies-Lets-hope-likes-Wizard-Oz.html

[Peter Ho]

what a wonderful man!

[Terry]

Let's face it. We're being controlled by the heterosexual majority. They don't want gay marriage because they don't want a bunch of perverts being validated. If they were really so concerned about the sanctity of marriage, they'd do something about the 50% divorce rate. Look around the next time you're at Walmart. These people can get married, but we can't? Obama was supposed to have been the most liberal senator. And I'm to believe as president he's against gay marriage? He's either lying, or he thinks we're a bunch of perverts like everyone else.

[Trix]

"Change - Yes we can" that what i heard Obama saying through his campaign.
So lets change discriminating gay people account of their sexual orientation. - Yes we can

Lets change Prop 8 - Yes we can

Lets change marriage and include same sex marriage - Yes we can.

Obama - Yes we can

[splerk]

MARRIAGE ISN'T A WORD - IT'S A SENTENCE
Ha Ha Ha !!!
It is just a stupid word, let them have it.
We still have Civil Unions in a lot of places across the US.
If they over turn them - well Canada is looking better & better. Especially with their better health care system.
And now SPAIN & the Netherlands are a couple of more options.
But I will hold out in San Diego instead.
Once everything goes bust, the real men will find a way to stay.
And once they start giving houses away or selling them for what they are really worth, CA will be mine still yet again.
Marriage or not.
And for those of you who say you don't give a fuck about CA, you'd better because what happens in CA eventually happens across the US.
That is a Fact Jack offs.
CA is always 1st and has always been here, earthquakes and all.
And CA always comes back, just like all you tourists come back every year.

[Stephen C. Banks]

This guy is definitely on my hero list. Prop 8 makes giving up my citizenship in the US sound like a good idea.

[Steven]

Yes we can??? What a fool believes. Yes, and even though he's breaking every promise he made, he's gonna keep the one to us. What color is the sky in your world???

Have you ever heard the definition of insanity???:

"and I quote" Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results"

Obama answers to a master, and the master isn't Mr. Garrison.

Please, we are alone, the sooner you realize it the sooner you can close the door on the "blissful past of innocence"

We can still be fired for the crime of being gay in many States, but now that the DEMOCRATS have "Complete" control, do you really think they will do such a simple thing as protect us at the workplace from jerks?

When they fail to protect our basic needs, will you too fail to help them the next time they need your volunteer ism and vote? Or will you listen to their words, and ignore their actions?

Battered women syndrome?

[cls]

Beware of Brown's bearing gifts. Mr Brown has pushed heavy police state measure in the UK. His government has stripped people of privacy rights, is creating a national database of DNA samples, even from children, has more cameras spying on the public than anyplace in the world, is pushing for a national ID requirement, etc. He is very, very anti civil liberties. Saying a few nice words against Prop 8 doesn't change his horrendous record on liberty.

[Roger]

Although I appreciate Prime Minister Brown's statement I also agree that Great Britian has an "aparthied" type of marriage for gays called "civil unions". Here in Canada gay people can get married just like anybody else. In Britian if you are gay and want to get married you still can't. When Britian went the "civil union" route they should have abolished government sanctioned "marriage" and just had "civil union" for everyone and let the churches and similar institutions conduct "marriages". This was one option that was touted here Canada as well but never done. I am certainly glad we have total legal equality here but I am disappointed that our own Prime Minister Stephen Harper didn't speak out about proposition 8, but, then again, he is a CONSERVATIVE Prime Minister who came to power with an election promise to revisit gay equality in marriage but that never really happened because he has a minority government and couldn't muster the support to overturn the legislation. Always be on guard even if you do get everything because it can always be taken away by a subsequent government. I don't see Prime Minister Brown as a 'hero' but, like I said, appreciate his taking a stand. Oh, and by the way, a recent poll of Americans finds that 90% of you view Canada favourably and think of us as your "second best friend" with Great Britian as your "best friend". YAY! we are number 2!

[phillip]

Sensible guns laws, a health care system that takes care of its people and they like the gays? They have it going on!

[frankie]

I find all the rhetoric about our rights being gay and lesbian, well, for one, vitally important both spiritually and socially, however.
It has been this way off an on thruought history so what is the big deal, there are so many more things ongoing that the masses are being blinded by topics like this. Does anyone even care that there are almost 600 empty concentration camps already built and staffed with armed guards all over the united states in preparation of a nazi-type military control when the shit eventually hits the fan from this dilapidated economy.check out rex 84 camps online if you think this is hype. there are so many issues at hand, and folks, it is all planned, fools if you think otherwise. Yes, it is fantastic to have our dreams and hopes of being treated equally as the straights, but there are larger and more important issues that need to be addressed and dealt with immediately. Think peeps, THINK!!!

[Louis]

Right on, Great Britian! Now if they only remove there ban of gays serving the military they will be up to speed.

[Alex]

I think people need to stop for a second with the criticizing England's 'civil union' definition. A friend I know who lives there said that 'civil union' is not restricted to simply gay people, but ALL people who don't get married through a religious ceremony, therefore it means something totally different from OUR 'civil unions' which are unequal, unfair, and unacceptable. If they want to define marriage as ONLY a religious institution with no connection to the state in America, then let them have the word, and ALL people, gay, straight, or anything else, will be content with our civil unions. Of course there's always the chance that my information on English civil unions is wrong, and if that is true I apologize, but what a lot of people don't seem to realize is how much power the WORD 'marriage' holds. We exist within and are inseparable from language, and people who think that words and labels have no power are, unfortunately, wrong. That being said, I'm just a poor English major and don't really know much about politics, so my argument ends here.

[potheads]

Tim2 I agree with Bubbie, you're also spreading hate when you blame your purported "repression" on Republicans; if I'm not mistaken I don't see Democrats--who control the House, Senate and Oval Office doing anything for gays... Take your head out of your ass and open your eyes and maybe just maybe after you quit getting spoonfed by the DNC, MSNBC, Wash. Post and your hippy professors at Berkeley that the Repub party is not your enemy and the Dems are not your friends and your worst enemy-the one turning everyone off to equal rights for gays, are the gays themselves that are preaching hate and attacking churches!

[potheads]

this deserves a repost, Mr. Brown sounds like our Liberals over here in the states:

Beware of Brown's bearing gifts. Mr Brown has pushed heavy police state measure in the UK. His government has stripped people of privacy rights, is creating a national database of DNA samples, even from children, has more cameras spying on the public than anyplace in the world, is pushing for a national ID requirement, etc. He is very, very anti civil liberties. Saying a few nice words against Prop 8 doesn't change his horrendous record on liberty.

Posted by: cls | March 07, 2009 at 01:04 AM

[potheads]

also deserves a repost:
Yes we can??? What a fool believes. Yes, and even though he's breaking every promise he made, he's gonna keep the one to us. What color is the sky in your world???

Have you ever heard the definition of insanity???:

"and I quote" Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results"

Obama answers to a master, and the master isn't Mr. Garrison.

Please, we are alone, the sooner you realize it the sooner you can close the door on the "blissful past of innocence"

We can still be fired for the crime of being gay in many States, but now that the DEMOCRATS have "Complete" control, do you really think they will do such a simple thing as protect us at the workplace from jerks?

When they fail to protect our basic needs, will you too fail to help them the next time they need your volunteer ism and vote? Or will you listen to their words, and ignore their actions?

Battered women syndrome?

Posted by: Steven | March 07, 2009 at 12:53 AM

[Ioannis Karayiannis]

I'm glad to see that the west has finally woken up to the meaning of freedom and Democracy well done Prime Minister Brown.

[Mr. Scott]

Who cares what that bloated Brit thinks? He would be better served by heading back across the pond and focusing on dental care for his people rather than injecting himself into American politics and culture.

Californians have spoken. In mass, they have made themselves clear that marriage should be defined as a union between one man and one woman, not man and man, woman and woman, or man and Cocker Spaniel. This is not "discrimination" or "homophobia", it is preserving the American culture.

On whole, most Americans are not anti-gay and are not opposed to civil unions. Why is it that so many of us gays and lesbians feel we have to tear down cultural and religious institutions, just so we can feel good about themselves?

[Lorraine]

@Louis - there is no ban on gay people serving in the Armed Forces in the UK. This was repealed several years ago by the current goverment.

And UK Civil Partnerships are exactly equal to marriage. In fact heterosexual couples who do not want religious connotations in their union are campaigning to be allowed to have Civil Partnerships which are currently restricted to same-sex couples.

[Steve]

Just go out there and fight for EQUAL RIGHTS IN CIVIL UNIONS and leave "marriage" to those who want to emulate a "straight" way of life.

[Gay Is The New Black?]

Don't equate your sin with my skin. Find your own cause.

Were gay americans systematically enslaved for over 200 years? Not only no but hell no. In literal chains? Worked literally to death in far too many cases? Bought and sold like livestock?

Find another analogy because that one don't fit any more than you can make apple pie from oranges.

[corrective_unconscious]

>On whole, most Americans are not anti-gay and are not opposed to civil unions. Why is it that so many of us gays and lesbians feel we have to tear down cultural and religious institutions, just so we can feel good about themselves?

Filing jointly is not a religious institution, Cletus. BTW, I don't believe you're gay; I think you're lyin' fer Jeebus agin'.

Civil unions don't confer social security, income tax or inheritance tax benefits, just for starters. The question really is what brain damage explains the self hating, Log Uncle Tom Cabin quislings' cluelessness and the ferocious homophobia of the xstain talibangelicals.

[Steven]

You are right corrective, but should we not be concentrating on those equal rights? Something that most would agree with, rather than trying to wrestle the word marriage away from a much larger group, in fact the vast majority?

BTW thanks POTHEADS. you get a kiss from me.

[Andrew]

I'm from the UK and I just want to say that I think it's fantastic to hear Gordon Brown denouncing proposition 8.
Mr Scott, I have to say that it is incredibly insulting for you to describe our Prime Minister as a "bloated Brit". I could reply that it is America that one generally associates with obesity, but it would be unfair and wrong to group Americans together in such a way - most Americans, like most British people, are healthy.
I think it's pathetic to use "culture" as an excuse for the maintenance of laws that exclude gay couples from marriage. In England we call that "fascism" and I think you'll find that Europe's experiments in that department didn't go too well...
Seriously, 8 years of Bush and you still won't learn. All too often You associate your right-wing values with "culture" or "the constitution". Seen as you Americans often allow your bigoted minority to take control of the country, I think Brown is right to take a stand and I'm proud of him for doing so. If you can't admit to your own problems, we'll just have to do it for you.
As a 16 year old gay from Manchester in the UK, I'm relieved to live in a country where most people are happy to sit back and watch the gradual reforms in favour of the LGBT community.

[the_real_sweedie]

Honestly, I couldn't care less what they call it. If they want to call it civil union then so be it. All I want is the same rights as everyone else have, I wouldn't marry in a church if I could anyway.

What people seem to misunderstand though is that even though people voted no on gay marriage in CA, you're not supposed to vote on matters like this. The supreme court is there to protect minorities, if the majority would vote on all minority problems, then a lot of things wouldn't look like they do today. And someone said to not compare gays with black, sure we haven't been enslaved in our history, but we've been supressed in many many ways. During the holocaust for example.
The similarity is that both groups, blacks and gays, have had, and in our case still have, different rights than everyone else. So, yes we haven't had it as rough as black people, but we still have had it pretty bad and still to this day we're considered lesser citizens.

[Mary Pugh]

It is my honor and delight to officiate for same sex marriages in Connecticut

I advised all my 100 or so civil union couples that I would upgrade them to marriage for NO charge (if they came to Norwalk or Darien).

CT is proud to lead the way to provide this basic right to ALL couples.

CT is the ONLY state where a same sex couple can get married in one day- no residency requirement, no blood test, no witnesses. Just the $30 license fee and $10 for a certified copy plus the fee for the officiant (which varies by officiant and by location). I take care of everything for as little as $200.

I have couples who have flown in from CA, FL, TX, IN, OH, IL, Mexico and who have driven in or taken the train from NYC, NJ, PA, RI, VA

Most couples have been together for YEARS...including one couple from Florida who have been together for 45 years!
Let people love each other and take care of each other. Isn't that what marriage is about?

Mary Pugh, CT Justice of the Peace, Norwalk, CT
http://www.ct-jp.com

[Alex]

Gay may not be the new black, but I find it equally insulting to have it insinuated that none of the many many black people, through a few hundred years of slavery, were gay. And of course there are plenty of black men and women today who are gay as well. Is it right that gay black people should shelve their gay issues in the name of their racial issues? I think not. And all of these people saying that gays have no allies, and that we have nobody we can trust, well, that is just disheartening that people believe that. If that is true then we are lost, because it will be impossible to win this fight without allies. And I don't mean just the fight for gay rights, but EVERYBODY'S rights. We can't be selfish and self absorbed ourselves, and then blame other 'minority' groups for not supporting us. Victory will only come in uniting all of us together to form a NEW majority, though I have no illusions that it will be easy. I just hope that I'm still alive when all these stupid barriers that keep us from just being PEOPLE come down.

[Obama is a Marxist]

I think England's socialized health care system is "unacceptable", having the government decide what medical attention you can and cannot have is beyond evil,...but that isn't any of my business, just as California law is not their business.

[Laun]

I think Steven is making some valuable points, we are alone defending these issues, we are our own family and need not to beat eachother down. No matter where any of us wander, move, live its important to stand by eachother.

Keeping the Brotherhood, Peace