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 Peter Tatchell says Banned Poem (See Text) to be Read 25 Years Since Gay News' Blasphemy Conviction in UK |
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Compiled by GayToday
 London, England-At 11am on Thursday, July 11 2002 at St Martins-in-the-fields Church, Trafalgar
Square, James Kirkup's banned "blasphemous" poem will be read and distributed in
London.
The event will mark the 25th anniversary of Gay News's conviction for publishing Kirkup's poem, The Love That Dares To Speak Its Name, which "blasphemously" suggests that Jesus was gay. Kirkup's poem is being published by Iain Banks, Edward Bond, Zoe Fairbairns, A C Grayling, Darren Johnson, Ludovic Kennedy, Sir Harry Kroto, Alice Mahon MP, Ivan Massow, Jonathan Meades, George Melly, John Mortimer QC, Professor Richard Norman, Philip Pullman, Claire Rayner, Tony Reeves, Geoffrey Robertson QC, Peter Tatchell and Laurie Taylor. They are challenging the authorities: "arrest us or abolish the blasphemy law." The protest and poem's publication is being co-ordinated by the British Humanist Association, National Secular Society, Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association, New Humanist and the Rationalist Press Association. "The blasphemy law gives the Christian religion privileged protection against criticism and dissent. No other institution enjoys such sweeping powers to suppress the expression of opinions and ideas", says protest co-organizer and participant, Peter Tatchell. "In the name of free speech, the right to protest and artistic freedom, we call for the offence of blasphemy to be abolished", he said. The July 11 protest coincides with a Bill, sponsored by Lord Avebury, which would abolish the common law offence of blasphemy. Lord Avebury's Bill is currently being considered by the Select Committee on Religious Offences.
Side One Abolish the Blasphemy Law Twenty-five years ago, on 11 July 1977, the newspaper Gay News was convicted of blasphemous libel for publishing James Kirkup's poem, The Love that Dares To Speak Its Name. The editor of Gay News, the late Denis Lemon, was fined £500 and sentenced to nine months in prison - suspended for 18 months. Gay News was fined £1,000. On this twenty-fifth anniversary of the conviction of Gay News, we issue a public challenge: Arrest us or abolish the blasphemy law. We are publishing and distributing James Kirkup's banned poem in defiance of state censorship. What we are doing should not be a crime. We believe you have the right to read this poem. If you are likely to be offended, you have a choice: do not read it. The blasphemy law gives the Christian religion privileged protection against criticism and dissent. No other institution enjoys such sweeping powers to suppress the expression of opinions and ideas. In the name of free speech, the right to protest and artistic freedom, we call for the abolition of the blasphemy law: Iain Banks, Edward Bond, Zoe Fairbairns, A C Grayling, Dareen Johnson, Ludovic Kennedy, Sir Harry Kroto, Alice Mahon, MP Ivan Massow, Jonathan Meades, George Melly, John Mortimer QC, Professor Richard Norman, Philip Pullman, Claire Rayner, Tony Reeves, Geoffrey Robertson QC, Peter Tatchell, Laurie Taylor. British Humanist Association, Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association, National Secular Society, New Humanist, Rationalist Press Association Printed and published by the above named individuals and organisations. c/o 47 Theobalds Road, London, WC1X 8SP Defend Free Speech End Religious Privilege Side Two The poem in your hand is illegal. Turn over to find out why ... The Love That Dares To Speak Its Name By James Kirkup As they took him from the cross I, the centurion, took him in my arms- the tough lean body of a man no longer young, beardless, breathless, but well hung. He was still warm. While they prepared the tomb I kept guard over him. His mother and the Magdalen had gone to fetch clean linen to shroud his nakedness. I was alone with him. For the last time I kissed his mouth. My tongue found his, bitter with death. I licked his wound- the blood was harsh For the last time I laid my lips around the tip of that great cock, the instrument of our salvation, our eternal joy. The shaft, still throbbed, anointed with death's final ejaculation. I knew he'd had it off with other men- with Herod's guards, with Pontius Pilate, With John the Baptist, with Paul of Tarsus with foxy Judas, a great kisser, with the rest of the Twelve, together and apart. He loved all men, body, soul and spirit - even me. So now I took off my uniform, and, naked, lay together with him in his desolation, caressing every shadow of his cooling flesh, hugging him and trying to warm him back to life. Slowly the fire in his thighs went out, while I grew hotter with unearthly love. It was the only way I knew to speak our love's proud name, to tell him of my long devotion, my desire, my dread- something we had never talked about. My spear, wet with blood, his dear, broken body all open wounds, and in each wound his side, his back, his mouth - I came and came and came as if each coming was my last. And then the miracle possessed us. I felt him enter into me, and fiercely spend his spirit's final seed within my hole, my soul, pulse upon pulse, unto the ends of the earth- he crucified me with him into kingdom come. -This is the passionate and blissful crucifixion same-sex lovers suffer, patiently and gladly. They inflict these loving injuries of joy and grace one upon the other, till they die of lust and pain within the horny paradise of one another's limbs, with one voice cry to heaven in a last divine release. Then lie long together, peacefully entwined, with hope of resurrection, as we did, on that green hill far away. But before we rose again, they came and took him from me. They knew what we had done, but felt no shame or anger. Rather they were glad for us, and blessed us, as would he, who loved all men. And after three long, lonely days, like years, in which I roamed the gardens of my grief seeking for him, my one friend who had gone from me, he rose from sleep, at dawn, and showed himself to me before all others. And took me to him with the love that now forever dares to speak its name. "Everyone has the right to freedom of expression"
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