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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/04/british-airways-pride-gay-rights-asylum-seekers
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| British Airways sponsors Pride. So why help to deport LGBT asylum seekers? | British Airways sponsors Pride. So why help to deport LGBT asylum seekers? |
| (25 days later) | |
| In just a few days’ time, London will play host to its annual Pride celebrations. The city, as is now customary, will be filled with partying and placards, rainbow flags flying high for all to see. To outsiders, the festivities might seem uncomplicated: a parade filled with colourful outfits, followed by drinking and dancing late into the night. However, for the LGBTQ+ community Pride’s identity – its very purpose – is a source of conflict and controversy, a debate that remains relevant throughout the year. | In just a few days’ time, London will play host to its annual Pride celebrations. The city, as is now customary, will be filled with partying and placards, rainbow flags flying high for all to see. To outsiders, the festivities might seem uncomplicated: a parade filled with colourful outfits, followed by drinking and dancing late into the night. However, for the LGBTQ+ community Pride’s identity – its very purpose – is a source of conflict and controversy, a debate that remains relevant throughout the year. |
| There are those who question the inclusion of the police in Pride parades, what with their institutional history of violence against our community, and prejudices that continue to harm us to this day. There are others, too, who take issue with seemingly endless list of corporate sponsorships – LGBTQ+ “culture” packaged up by multinationals, diluted, and sold for a profit, arguably only helping shareholders and sales. Without fail, concerns are raised annually about representation, about whether it’s wrong to charge an entry fee to punters and why campaigners who are demanding true equality aren’t the ones leading the way on the day. | There are those who question the inclusion of the police in Pride parades, what with their institutional history of violence against our community, and prejudices that continue to harm us to this day. There are others, too, who take issue with seemingly endless list of corporate sponsorships – LGBTQ+ “culture” packaged up by multinationals, diluted, and sold for a profit, arguably only helping shareholders and sales. Without fail, concerns are raised annually about representation, about whether it’s wrong to charge an entry fee to punters and why campaigners who are demanding true equality aren’t the ones leading the way on the day. |
| All this debate and disagreement is of course healthy – it’s the only way any community can progress. As to what being LGBTQ+ means in Britain evolves and grows, so will Pride and its significance. And yet some principles must be stuck to without compromise at Pride celebrations if we’re to ensure that they continue to be, at their heart, events by and for the LGBTQ+ community. The most obvious is that those who actively harm, endanger and oppress queer people have no right to stand alongside us on the day. | All this debate and disagreement is of course healthy – it’s the only way any community can progress. As to what being LGBTQ+ means in Britain evolves and grows, so will Pride and its significance. And yet some principles must be stuck to without compromise at Pride celebrations if we’re to ensure that they continue to be, at their heart, events by and for the LGBTQ+ community. The most obvious is that those who actively harm, endanger and oppress queer people have no right to stand alongside us on the day. |
| That’s why Virgin Atlantic was last week right to announce that it will no longer deport immigrants being removed involuntarily from the country on its flights. In a statement, it said that this was “in the interest of all [their] customers and staff”. The damage done by the Windrush scandal and the spotlight turning on the government’s inhumane treatment of immigrant communities was no doubt a factor in pressuring the airline to take action, but it was also because of the tireless campaigning work of LGBTQ+ activists. | That’s why Virgin Atlantic was last week right to announce that it will no longer deport immigrants being removed involuntarily from the country on its flights. In a statement, it said that this was “in the interest of all [their] customers and staff”. The damage done by the Windrush scandal and the spotlight turning on the government’s inhumane treatment of immigrant communities was no doubt a factor in pressuring the airline to take action, but it was also because of the tireless campaigning work of LGBTQ+ activists. |
| Virgin airlines says it will no longer help to deport immigrants | |
| Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants, whose namesake were the original LGSM – queer people who supported mining communities in the 1980s – have long been highlighting the injustice of deporting LGBTQ+ asylum seekers back to countries where they face persecution, a practice Theresa May’s government continues to undertake to this day. | Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants, whose namesake were the original LGSM – queer people who supported mining communities in the 1980s – have long been highlighting the injustice of deporting LGBTQ+ asylum seekers back to countries where they face persecution, a practice Theresa May’s government continues to undertake to this day. |
| Between July 2015 and March 2017, some 3,535 asylum claims were raised in which sexual orientation was the basis. Those seeking safety were from countries such as Pakistan, Uganda and Iran – states where in 2018 it is still illegal and dangerous to be gay. Despite this, only 55% of LGBTQ+ people were granted asylum in that period from Uganda, and that figure was only a quarter for those from Pakistan. Across the board, only 25% of LGBTQ+ asylum claims were granted, the government’s determination to create a hostile environment putting LGBTQ+ lives in danger. | Between July 2015 and March 2017, some 3,535 asylum claims were raised in which sexual orientation was the basis. Those seeking safety were from countries such as Pakistan, Uganda and Iran – states where in 2018 it is still illegal and dangerous to be gay. Despite this, only 55% of LGBTQ+ people were granted asylum in that period from Uganda, and that figure was only a quarter for those from Pakistan. Across the board, only 25% of LGBTQ+ asylum claims were granted, the government’s determination to create a hostile environment putting LGBTQ+ lives in danger. |
| As a sponsor of London Pride, Virgin had no choice but to refuse to participate in the inhumane practice of deporting LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and, as a sponsor of Brighton Pride, British Airways must do the same. If the UK’s national airline continues to work with the Home Office in doing so, it has no place in Brighton’s – or any other city’s – LGBTQ+ celebrations or parades. | As a sponsor of London Pride, Virgin had no choice but to refuse to participate in the inhumane practice of deporting LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and, as a sponsor of Brighton Pride, British Airways must do the same. If the UK’s national airline continues to work with the Home Office in doing so, it has no place in Brighton’s – or any other city’s – LGBTQ+ celebrations or parades. |
| The fact that the 1971 Immigration Act made not co-operating with the Home Office a criminal offence for Virgin is immaterial. Putting people’s lives in danger, LGBTQ+ or otherwise, can never be excused. LGBTQ+ rights in the United Kingdom weren’t won by asking nicely: activists struggled for decades, and continue to do so – often engaging in acts of civil disobedience in order to ensure our right to live freely and safely is, as far as possible, enshrined in law. Airlines who facilitate, and profit from, the forced deportation of refugees and asylum seekers from the United Kingdom don’t get to pass the blame. It’s the responsibility of us all to stand up to grave injustices when we witness them first hand. Let’s not forget that Jimmy Mubenga, an Angolan man, died after being restrained by guards while being deported on a BA flight. | The fact that the 1971 Immigration Act made not co-operating with the Home Office a criminal offence for Virgin is immaterial. Putting people’s lives in danger, LGBTQ+ or otherwise, can never be excused. LGBTQ+ rights in the United Kingdom weren’t won by asking nicely: activists struggled for decades, and continue to do so – often engaging in acts of civil disobedience in order to ensure our right to live freely and safely is, as far as possible, enshrined in law. Airlines who facilitate, and profit from, the forced deportation of refugees and asylum seekers from the United Kingdom don’t get to pass the blame. It’s the responsibility of us all to stand up to grave injustices when we witness them first hand. Let’s not forget that Jimmy Mubenga, an Angolan man, died after being restrained by guards while being deported on a BA flight. |
| If British Airways is truly committed to supporting LGBTQ+ people, it’s not too much to ask that it takes this stand. Deporting members of our community to possible death can’t be mitigated simply with its meaningless slogan of “Flying Proud”. If British Airways doesn’t follow in Virgin’s footsteps, it will prove that it’s only lip-service and good PR that the airline considers worthwhile – co-optation at its worst. When I approached the company for comment I got no response. | If British Airways is truly committed to supporting LGBTQ+ people, it’s not too much to ask that it takes this stand. Deporting members of our community to possible death can’t be mitigated simply with its meaningless slogan of “Flying Proud”. If British Airways doesn’t follow in Virgin’s footsteps, it will prove that it’s only lip-service and good PR that the airline considers worthwhile – co-optation at its worst. When I approached the company for comment I got no response. |
| “We take great pride in transporting our modern British values to the world,” reads British Airways’ page on the Brighton Pride website. It’s now up to the company to decide which values it wishes to uphold – those of a progressive society committed to equality, or one that continues to place LGBTQ+ lives at risk. | “We take great pride in transporting our modern British values to the world,” reads British Airways’ page on the Brighton Pride website. It’s now up to the company to decide which values it wishes to uphold – those of a progressive society committed to equality, or one that continues to place LGBTQ+ lives at risk. |
| • Michael Segalov is the news editor at Huck magazine and a freelance journalist | • Michael Segalov is the news editor at Huck magazine and a freelance journalist |
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| Immigration and asylum | Immigration and asylum |
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