Ed Miliband wants to be a ‘happy warrior’ for LGBT rights
Labour leader Ed Miliband has vowed to be a “warrior” for equality and social justice for gay people if elected.
In the latest issue of Gay Times magazine, Mr Miliband made a personal commitment to champion LGBT rights.
Asked why a gay voter should vote for the Labour Party, he answered: “Simply, because of our belief in equality.
“I came into the Labour Party because I care about equality and I care about a more equal society – economically, socially, in terms of power and, as I said, because I don’t believe that the battle for equality has been truly won.
“I don’t think we should declare victory. I think we should declare that we’ve made huge progress – but we’ve got further to go to win the battle.”
He said: “As Prime Minister, I would be a warrior for equality and social justice, because that’s just what I believe.”
His answer echoed the words he wrote on notes ahead of the first televised leaders’ debate – in which he reminded himself to come across as a ‘happy warrior’.
In his now-infamous prep notes, Mr Miliband wrote: “Happy warrior. Calm never agitated. Negative – Positive.”
Writing for PinkNews last year, the Labour leader said: “Whatever victories we have enjoyed, the battle for equality still isn’t won. We might be getting closer to formal equality in Britain, but we need always to aim higher. We need to aim for real equality.”
The Labour manifesto, released earlier this week, included several pledges related to LGBT issues.
If elected, the party has pledged to introduce age-appropriate sex and relationships education (SRE), and has pledged to “stop the blight of homophobic bullying.”
In addition, the Labour Party has pledged to “challenge prejudice before it grows, whether in schools, universities or on social media. And we will strengthen the law on disability, homophobic, and transphobic hate crime.” The party also vowed to “promote respect for the human rights of LGBT people, and work towards the decriminalisation of homosexuality worldwide.”
Read the full interview in April’s issue of GT, which is available to buy at www.gtdigi.co.uk or in shops now.
