lgbt
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, Australia, was a huge disappointment in terms of human rights. The failings were particularly acute concerning the systemic abuse of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) human rights in 80% of the Commonwealth's 54 member states.
The likes of Melanie Phillips and Roger Helmer will continue to make a lot of noise. But, thankfully, they are on the wrong side of history.
Only indifference will overcome prejudice. Beautiful indifference. And thankfully in Britain these days it's on the increase.
Christian fundamentalists should cease their phoney claims of persecution and drop their demand to be able to discriminate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Instead, they should concentrate on supporting their fellow Christians elsewhere in the world who are suffering real and grave persecution because of their faith.
There were 298 applications for CRB checks that used the little-known "transgender applications process" last financial year. (April 2010 - March 2011) That sounds like quite a lot, but is it as many as we'd expect?
We can only hope that Commonwealth leaders will heed the call of so many and begin to do the work that is necessary to show true moral leadership, modernise the organisation and protect all of its citizens. If it fails to do so, it risks fatally undermining its professed commitment to human rights and will merely succeed in convincing critics of its irrelevance.
Whatever excuses the Commonwealth may offer in its defence, one fact is indisputable: in the six decades of its existence it has never debated LGBT human rights.
Glee has gone all out to ensure that as many minorities as possible are represented. I admit that it is not a perfect show, but it is doing a lot for young people. It is incredibly popular, and if that popularity can be harnessed into doing some good for the LGBT community, I am all for it.