Sir Ian McKellen unveils Tatchell blue plaque
Award for 43 years of human rights activism
Blessing by out gay Catholic priest, Bernard Lynch
“My contribution is very small. Compared to many others, I am a minnow.”
“I dedicate my acceptance of this award to the heroic democracy and human rights campaigners in Iran, Uganda, Iraq, Russia, Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and West Papua. I walk – no crawl – in their shadow. Their courage is awesome.”
London, UK – 1 October 2010
Acclaimed actor and film star Sir Ian McKellen this week unveiled ablue plaque honouring gay rights and human rights campaigner PeterTatchell.
The plaque was given a “secular blessing” by one of the world’s onlyopenly gay Catholic priests, Father Bernard Lynch. The local MP, SimonHughes, also spoke, together with Southwark Council Cabinet Member,Veronica Ward.
The plaque, erected on Mr Tatchell’s block of flats in south London, reads:
“Peter Tatchell. Born 1952. Campaigner for human rights, gay freedom and social justice. Lived here. Voted by the people.”
The ceremony took place on Wednesday 29 September 2010.
Free PHOTOS of the ceremony are available on the OutRage website:
http://outrage.org.uk/2010/09/peter-tatchells-blue-plaque-unveiled/
A short VIDEO, with selected highlights of the speeches, can be viewed here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDCx7yf2Evc
Speaking after the unveiling and his acceptance speech, Peter Tatchell later told the media:
“I’m grateful but somewhat embarrassed. My contribution is very small. Compared to many others, I am a minnow.
“It’s very rare for living people to be honoured in this way. Younormally only get a blue plaque when you’re dead. I’m still very muchalive and I plan to carry on campaigning for another 30 years.
“This is a special honour. It hasn’t been given to me by a quango or acommittee of experts. The people of Southwark voted to give me thisplaque, in recognition of my 43 years of human rights and LGBT rightscampaigning. I feel humbled and undeserving to receive a blue plaquealongside so many truly great Southwark residents.
“For me, this blue plaque is also a tribute to the many campaigners whoI have worked with over the last four decades. Without them, I wouldnot have achieved so much. They have been my rock. Together, we havechallenged prejudice and injustice. I am hugely indebted to my campaigncolleagues.
“This plaque is wonderful but my greatest honour has been to work withso many inspiring, brave activists, both here and abroad.
“I dedicate my acceptance of this award to the heroic democracy andhuman rights campaigners in Iran, Uganda, Iraq, Russia, Zimbabwe, SaudiArabia, Pakistan and West Papua. I walk – no crawl – in their shadow.Their courage is awesome.
“I do my bit for human rights but so do millions of other people.Together, we are making a better, fairer world for ourselves and futuregenerations,” said Mr Tatchell.
Blue plaques are placed on the places of residence of famousscientists, writers, inventors, sportspeople, actors, politicians andsocial reformers. Previous Southwark recipients include John Harvard,Charles Dickens, Enid Blyton, Tommy Steele, Charles Babbage, HenryCooper, Isambard Brunel, Michael Faraday, Charlie Chaplin, OctaviaHill, Michael Caine, Oliver Goldsmith and Mary Wollstonecraft.
See these news reports of the unveiling:
BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11440301
Pink News:
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/09/29/gay-campaigner-peter-tatchell-honoured-with-blue-plaque/
SE1 magazine:
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4840
Southwark borough council, which organised and sponsored the blue plaque, issued the following statement:
“For 43 years, Peter Tatchell has spearheaded campaigns for gay rightsand human rights in Britain and across the globe. In 1983 he was thedefeated Labour candidate in the Bermondsey by-election – the dirtiest,most violent election in Britain in the twentieth century. Heco-founded OutRage! in 1990 and he twice attempted a citizen’s arrestof President Mugabe of Zimbabwe on charges of human rights abuses.
“Peter has also written or contributed to over 20 books such as, TheBattle for Bermondsey, Democratic Defence, Europe in the Pink – Lesbian& Gay Equality in The New Europe and We Don’t Want to MarchStraight: Masculinity, Queers and the Military. He has also authoredover 3,000 published articles.
“Last year Peter was named Campaigner of the Year at The Observer Ethical Awards,” the council said.
Commenting on being awarded a Blue Plaque, Peter Tatchell said:
“It is a big honour. I am very grateful to the people who voted for me,especially since there were other notable, worthy and deservingnominees. I hope my receipt of this award will encourage others tocampaign for human rights. I have lived in Southwark most of my life
and I am very proud to be part of its long, illustrious history ofdistinguished authors, playwrights, scientists, inventors and socialreformers,” said Mr Tatchell.
“I appreciate this award, but the greatest honour I’ve had is theprivilege to know and work with so many amazing, courageous humanrights defenders in Britain and around the world. That’s the real, truehonour to me.
“Nevertheless, after so many years of demonisation by the tabloids,right-wingers, homophobes and even some people on the left, it is greatto receive this recognition.
“I was born in Melbourne, Australia, but I have lived and worked inSouthwark most of my life, since 1978. During this time, I’ve beeninvolved in many local community struggles.
“When I was Chair of the Rockingham Estate tenant’s association in1980, we fought a successful campaign to turn derelict Dicken’s Squareinto a neighbourhood park and adventure playground.
“The biggest battles were against the property speculators who grabbedprime riverside sites, like Hay’s Wharf and Surrey Docks, and squeezedout long-standing working class residents. Most of the redevelopment ofthe last 30 years has been offices and luxury flats for the rich. Localpeople have benefited very little. That’s why I stood for parliament inthe 1983 Bermondsey by-election. I wanted a fairer deal for the peopleof Southwark and Bermondsey.
“I love the history of North Southwark. It’s crammed with connectionsto Geoffrey Chaucer, Michael Faraday, William Shakespeare and CharlesDickens. I especially appreciate the Red Bermondsey history, whenLabour won control of Bermondsey Borough Council in 1922, and led theworld in municipal socialism. It initiated pioneering schemes toreplace the slums with a garden city. People came from all over theworld to marvel at the council-run “people’s palaces” – the new houseswith gardens, the health centre, baths and public library. TheBermondsey Labour MP, Dr Alfred Salter, was a great champion of workingclass people.
“The 1983 Bermondsey by-election was the dirtiest, most violentelection in Britain for over 100 years. I was attacked in the street,had my flat smashed, there were arson attempts on my home and threeattempts by drivers to run me down in the street. I got a bulletthrough the door and I received dozens of threats to kill me. But Ihave no regrets. I stood against the developers, on the side of localpeople. I did what I believed was right.
“The current plans for the redevelopment of the Elephant and Castle areselling local people short. Only a small proportion will be affordablecouncil and social housing for rent to low-income families. Thedevelopers will make billions, while the local community will getrelatively little. With a development of this size, not only should theexisting council housing stock be fully replaced, but the developersshould provide at least an additional 500 council houses for needyfamilies in the surrounding areas.
“My political inspirations are people like Mahatma Gandhi, SylviaPankhurst, Martin Luther King and, to some extent, Malcolm X and RosaLuxemburg. I’ve adapted some of their ideas and methods to mycontemporary struggle for human rights rights, and invented a few of myown.
“My proudest achievements as a human rights campaigner have been my twoattempted citizen’s arrests of the Zimbabwean dictator, Robert Mugabe.They helped draw international attention to the human rights abusesperpetrated by his murderous regime. I was glad to support the peopleof Zimbabwe who are fighting for democracy and human rights. Eventhough I got badly beaten by Mugabe’s bodyguards and have ended up withsome brain and eye damage, I have no regrets” said Mr Tatchell.
More information:
The Southwark blue plaques scheme is run by Southwark Council and the Southwark Heritage Association.
For more information on Southwark’s blue plaques, please see http://www.southwark.gov.uk/DiscoverSouthwark/heritageandhistory/BluePlaquesSection/