Third in line to the throne kisses fellow soldier
Republican Tatchell defends prince
London, UK – 14 January 2009
The third in line to the British throne and son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, Prince Harry, is embroiled in a huge race row over his use the word “Paki” to describe an Asian soldier in his army unit.
But his use of the word “queer” in the same army video diary has generated zero outcry.
This differential response has been condemned by LGBTI human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell of OutRage! He said:
“Double standards on racism and homophobia are unacceptable. The media and politicians have universally condemned Harry’s use of the word “Paki” but remained silent about his use of the word “queer.” This is pure hypocrisy. Either both words are wrong or neither are wrong.”
Mr Tatchell has also gently chided his fellow campaigners in the gay rights group Stonewall after they accused the prince of being homophobic for using the word queer. He said that although Stonewall was “well intentioned” it was being “over-sensitive” and “imagining homophobia where it does not exist.”
Mr Tatchell added:
“I cannot see anything offensive about the context and manner in which Harry used the word queer.
“It wasn’t said with hate, aggression or malice.
“Later in his video diary the prince mouths to another soldier ‘I love you’ before kissing him on the cheek and licking his face. Kissing another bloke in front of his mates and putting it on film doesn’t seem very homophobic to me. On the contrary, Harry comes across as very gay-friendly.
“We should kick up a fuss about real homophobia, not imagined prejudice.
“The prince is third in line to the British throne. For him to happily give his soldier friend a public kiss and lick his face strikes me as rather liberated and enlightened, for a straight man. I wish more heterosexual men were relaxed about same-sex affection like Harry. The world would be a better, more tolerant place.
For details of Harry’s queer references, see this News of the World report:
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/123700/Watch-Prince-Harrys-racist-outbursts-on-video.html
“The context and intention of words is crucial in deciding whether they are offensive or not. It is absurd to say that the use of a particular word is always right or always wrong. It all depends on the intention of the person using it and the manner and context in which they say it.
“I don’t find anything objectionable about Harry’s use of the word queer.
“I am against royalism and the monarchy. I want a democratic republic, with an elected head of state, but that’s another issue,” said Mr Tatchell.