As Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) organisations and individuals, we support the principle that unity against fascism can only be effective by working with all those who face the threat of the far right.

The British National Party (BNP)’s politics of hatred includes attacking Muslims, the denial of the Holocaust, the aim of an “all-white Britain”, which could only be achieved through violent means, and campaigns of homophobia: they have run a gay pub landlord out of business in Burnley, liken gay men to paedophiles and have recently promoted a campaign attacking LGBT history month, describing it as an “atrocity”. They stand in the tradition of the Nazis, whose rise to power resulted in the deaths of millions of Jewish people, lesbians and gay men, disabled people, black people and trade unionists as well as others.

We cannot afford to underestimate the mortal threat that growing fascism poses to all of our communities or to be divided in the struggle against it. This means bringing together all those who are threatened by and opposed to fascism within a united anti-fascist framework. Muslim communities are a major target of BNP hate campaigning.

It is a regrettable reality that leading figures of most major religions have reactionary attitudes to homosexuality. We obviously disagree with these views, however we believe that all those who oppose the BNP must be engaged with and that in turn can open a dialogue in which we seek to change such views.

Imaan — the support group for LGBT Muslims
Lesbian and Gay Coalition Against Racism
Ben Summerskill — Chief Executive Stonewall
Pav Akhtar Black Rep — Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights
Takhsin Begum — Black women’s representative, NUS LGBT Committee
Linda Bellos
Khi — Black Lesbians UK and UK BLaGcWatch
Kirsten Hearne — LGBT Liason Executive, Regard: the national organisation of Disabled Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals and Transgendered people
Caroline Jones and Michael Verrie — Co-Chairs, Broken Rainbow LGBT Domestic Violence Service (UK)
Jackie Lewis
Sharon Stacey — LGBT representative, NUS Black students committee