Candlelit vigil for gay victims (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Candlelit vigil for gay victims

4:30pm Sunday 28th May 2006 in News By Sarah Cosgrove

A CANDLELIT vigil was held for victims of homophobia as part of an international day of protest against the practice.

It was the second part of a two-part event which began at Walthamstow Town Hall and moved on to Theatre Square in Stratford.

The rally in Walthamstow last Wednesday marked the launch of a youth awareness campaign run by East London Out Project (ELOP) to mark the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO).

To demonstrate the aims of Stamp-OUT Homophobia, ELOP brought along a canvas which had dozens of footprints collected from supporters of the campaign, including two from council leader Clyde Loakes.

He said that the council was fully supportive of ELOP's aims.

"We want to build communities where everyone can live free from discrimination and fear of crime, and together regardless of race, gender, disability, sexuality, religion or age," he said. A rainbow flag was also raised outside the town hall in Forest Road and flown for the day. Activists from all over East London then moved on to the vigil in Theatre Square.

West Ham MP Lyn Brown sent her support to the event. In a letter read out at the vigil, she said: "I fully endorse the practical aims which underpin IDAHO."

ELOP volunteers and staff are planning to put out awareness information at events across the summer to encourage greater reporting of homophobic hate crimes. Director Teresa Sharpe said: "It is time to stop allowing our lives and the lives of our global brothers and sisters to be taken, violated and lost unnecessarily, at the hands of people who are ignorant, refuse to tolerate differences and who continue to discriminate, harass, victimise or stay silent.

"Our message is that homophobia hurts everyone. I would urge everyone not to be silent but to unite, be strong and stand together for justice, equality and respect for all."

Around 80 countries in the world still crimianlise homosexuality and imprison those caught practicing same-sex acts. Gay people in Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates and Yemen face the death penalty if caught.

For more information contact 8509 3898 or email admin@elop.org.