Grandmother Who Objected to Gay Pride March Accused of Hate Crime
After witnessing a gay pride march, committed Christian Pauline Howe wrote to the council to complain that the event had been allowed to go ahead.
But instead of a simple acknowledgement, she received a letter warning her she might be guilty of a hate crime and that the matter had been passed to police.
Two officers later turned up at the frightened grandmother's home and lectured her about her choice of words before telling her she would not be prosecuted.
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Lemure
See our future, only freedom to speak what you want, if it agrees with the PC society. Alternate views not welcomed.
Ginty McGinty
Nothing wrong with alternative views - its how you give them. As long as you dont do it in an abusive way.
Ginty McGinty
If you want to know the exact facts about hate crime legislation in Britain then check this website. It is explain very simply:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/hate-crime/
Retired Logger
I wonder what would happen if grandma's paraded down the street promoting heterosexual Christian moral values and a homosexual protested the parade the same way this grandma did. Would the police shut down the parade of grandma's or go have the same talk with the homosexual and accuse the homosexual with a hate crime.
Ginty McGinty
If she did it in a way that was not preaching hatred nothing would happen - if she did it in the same way that she did attacking homosexuals then yes she would.
And note she was not investigated for demonstrating but for the abusive and foul way in which she did it.
Ginty McGinty
read the article and google news it - widely reported in british newspapers and on british tv - i wont repeat it as it is foul
DS
What abusive language was used?
vlp
IF the law is to protect people from being attacked because of race, religion, or ethnicity (new law - includes gay, lesbian, transgenders and disabled people) from violence crimes. I have no problem with it. But is it reduces free speech and if it stops preachers preaching sermons on 1 Corinthians 6:9. Then it becomes a weapon and a tool for political causes.
Ginty McGinty
The law in the UK (which is what is being talked about in this newspaper article) has no effect on free speech or sermons. In fact various churches in the UK bang on about corinthians all the time. Neither of these are hate crime.
DS
Your fear is well founded.
DS
All laws protect these groups..........'Hate Crime Laws' are only to appease Libs. and their angst for the fringe minority groups. Hate is a subjective emotion, and will always lend itself to confusion, corruption, and persecution, even against the innocent.
vlp
That is what I have been trying to say on paper it looks OK but I fear that this will become a political tool to control churches and other conservative groups.
Ginty McGinty
Hate Crime Legislation in Britain protects everyone. Anyone can be a victim of a hate crime.
My white, christian husband was recently the victim of a series of racist and religiously bigoted communications. He reported this to the police. The perpetrator has been charged and we are just now awaiting a court date.
Conservatism>liberaldoucheism
CONFORM CONFORM !!!!!!!!!!!!!! STOP FIGHTING AND CONFORM!!!!!!!!!!!!
VJay
This is getting out of hand...and Speech should NEVER be silenced ...BUT this boarders on the W.T.F ? ... Ridiculous !....
" Following a Freedom of Information request to police forces and fire services it also emerged that a number, including Essex Police and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, instruct staff to avoid the words 'child, youth or youngster'.
They could have 'connotations of inexperience, impetuosity and unreliability, or even dishonesty'.
The guide used by them also states that addressing someone as 'boy' or 'girl' may 'cause offense'. It suggests 'young people' instead.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1222813/Whats-Police-say-evenin-...
Nelg12
Sounds like Mrs. Howe is now a victom of a hate crime
Independent in AZ
@Nelg12
She was the subject of an investigation.
Special Forces (Ret)
I guess the Gay Police will be coming to pick up me and all my friends.
Ginty McGinty
Lets hope so
Conservatism>liberaldoucheism
Stupid old white straight woman......SHUT UP AND CONFORM to the gay agenda
Excalibur
............and, so it begins.......................!
LoatheLibs
God will not be mocked...liberalism's day will come...it has come before..it was horrible...but liberalism has risen in a very big way again...and their destruction will come again...in the not too distant future...GUARANTEED!
sister
Do you know how long people have been preaching and predicting that same thing? Homosexuality exists in every culture and always has. It is not a mockery of God to coexist peacefully.
Ginty McGinty
Oh cheer up!
USCitizen-Voter
They're riling up the RIGHT-WING base.
They are growing more aggressive and violent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQnmxW-UyKo
ms republic
pretty soon there will be no one to complain or promote morals, then everyone can have orgies in the streets, at the schools, in the restaurants... until the muslims take over, then they'll be beheaded. can't wait.
winodrifter
Under Obama this will be coming to your neighborhood soon.
TrueTexan
Welcome to the world of Fascism. ALL HAIL THE MEIN FURHER- THE GREAT MESSIAH. THE HALF BREED PRETENDING TO BE A PRESIDENT.
sister
You know this happened in Britain right? Maybe read a little before you post that kind of nonsense.
Ginty McGinty
Actually you are the one that comes across as a facist in your posting.
Bellatrix
You miss the point entirely. Hate crime legislation protects everyone in Britain. Anyone can be a victim of hate crime. It also works given that Britain seems to be a much more tolerant society than America. We dont think it is acceptable to judge people based on WHO they are. We further dont think it is right to attack people based on prejudice.
Redqueen
Tolerant or scared to voice their own opinions among all the cameras and audio set up throughout Britain?
vlp
What is a Hate crime in your eyes. If she just passed out fliers and objected to this parade is that a hate crime?
To me a hate crime is when someone does violence or threatens someone because of their race, religion, and yes if they are gay.
There is no indication that happened. The police lectured her about her choice of words before telling her she would not be prosecuted. This is crazy it sounds to me the council did not like what she said and wanted to make her an example - which is an abuse of power.
Preacher
bellatrixIn
Americans have their rights "endowed to them by their CREATOR...."
So, if you do not believe in God, who grants you your rights?
sister
What about the concept of free will? We are all held morally accountable by society for what we do, including our "sins," regardless of who or what we believe in.
Bellatrix
Some people also believe in the tooth fairy, santa claus etc..... Each to their own I say but you can try to ram your religion down my throat as much as you want and it will have no effect whatsoever.
Conservatism>liberaldoucheism
Some people believe in nothing and no one and have empty sad souls. I dont want that religion pushed down my throat either.
Redqueen
and I agree, no one should shove religion down your throat. But no one needs to shove a politically driven "hate crime" laws on others either.
Ginty McGinty
I thought you Americans got your rights from the US Constitution.
So does that mean that Amercians citizens only have rights if they believe in God?
I get my rights from the European Convention on Human Rights. Which applies to all humans living in the EU whether they believe in God or not.
Ginty McGinty
I thought you Americans got your rights from the US Constitution.
I get mine from the European Union Convention on Human Rights.
Ginty McGinty
I thought you Americans got your rights from the US Constitution.
I get mine from the European Union Convention on Human Rights.
Ginty McGinty
I thought you Americans got your rights from the US Constitution.
I get mine from the European Union Convention on Human Rights.
greyghost
This will becoming here!
Ginty McGinty
Good - some of you need locking up
SolidGold
What an ignorant thing to say!
vlp
Independent in AZ - So!! She passed out fliers since when was that wrong. What if artiest protested a Christian parade, they wrote to the council and passed out fliers at our parade? I might not like it - I might voice my opinion on it but would not want the police involved UNLESS there was violence or a treat involved. This is America (I know this took place in England) we believe in Free Speech - I might not like or agree with you but I will protect your right to say and express your opinion with out the police or government stepping in. I will instead voice, protest, boycott , perspire others that your are wrong though.
Misfit
Yep thats what i was saying, not knowing the laws of england i cant say either way on how the police talked to her, but if anyone made a mistake it sounds like it would be the council not the cops.
I would hope it was a english thing and they were just tring to keep her from future trouble. The english are much different than us when it comes to dealing with one another.
Bellatrix
Hate crime is against the law in Britain and if someone reported a hate crime then the police were duty bound to invesigate. She got a warning - and no further action is being taken.
Misfit
if a crime is reported the police have to look into it, they looked to have done the right thing, interviewed her and came to the right conclusion on charges. Id rather this than them picking and choosing what crimes reported to look into.
Redqueen
I'd rather have who ever sent the cops to her door investigated. Force of intimidation is illegal also.