Pride and Prejudice

I've never personally encountered real intolerance, so I don't tend to bother much with Pride events. It's important, and frightening, then, to remember that not everyone has such an easy time - so good on Amnesty International for showing solidarity with other nations. This year saw the first Pride march in Riga, Latvia that went ahead peacefully. Although it had to be heavily policed to reach even this level, other Eastern European countries have yet to manage this. Russian law, for example, provides no right to protest and this led again to mass riots at Moscow Pride where many - notably Right Said Fred singer Richard Fairbrass - were first beaten by the public, then taunted by the police. Although I'd like to think the egalitarian effect of EU membership affected the Latvian march, this contrasts with Poland's continued constitutional support of homophobia, with legislation banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools, clinging to the old myth that people can be converted.

Rights to protest unfortunately go both ways though, and 2007 saw a landmark ruling in the US with the suing of right-wing inbred crazies the Westboro Baptist Church - famed for the catchphrase God Hates Fags - for $11 million (currently about 5.5m and falling). For anyone who hasn't heard of these folks- they go to soldiers' funerals, memorials and so forth and 'remind' people that their deaths were a punishment from God for tolerating homosexuality. But they met their match after demonstrating at the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, killed in Iraq. His father was awarded damages in compensation for emotional distress and invasion of privacy. This was the first civil case involving the 'church' following rulings by many states prohibiting protests at funerals. Let's hope a precedent has been set and this cult will have to keep their immorality to the privacy of their own homes.

And finally, JK Rowling revealed that Hogwarts' headmaster Albus Dumbledore is gay. What I found most interesting was the reaction from gay rights campaigners, who argued that it should have been more explicit. Because that's just not Rowling's style. She is rarely explicit about romance and when she is, we'd really rather she wasn't (see Ron kissing Lavender Brown). Sounds to me like people are just upset that they didn't get it – had Grindelwald been a woman, everyone would have presumed a romance – which questions where the prejudice really lies. JK has in fact struck a blow for equality by giving the relationship the status of absolute normality. Most concerning, however, is this Stonewall quote: "Now young gay men know they can achieve anything – even being a wizard headmaster." Pity the poor careers counsellor who has to break it to bright-eyed young boys – you may be queer, but you're still a Muggle.