We're here, we're queer and we're not shopping

Friday, 21 December 2007

Come World AIDS Day and it seems not all are happy to promote support, prevention and cure. Gino Meriano of Gayweddings.com has been fighting Peacocks Centre in Woking, Surrey since February 2007 and their decision to not allow Gay Surrey a stall in their shopping centre.

Gay Surrey were aiming to support a number of projects including World AIDS Day but Mr Keeping, Centre Manager, indicated that there was no room for compromise on the issue and felt the charity's presence was inappropriate in a family shopping centre stating in the Woking News and Mail "I don't think the promotion of lesbian or gay activity is appropriate in this centre but I'm not saying it isn't appropriate elsewhere.”

Needless to say Gay Surrey and Gino are fighting the decision of Mr Keeping and the British Land PLC Peacocks Centre. ”As a community charity” Gino explained “we are taking the relevant steps to prevent this kind of discrimination from happening again. Remember we should now be protected under the Equality Act 2006. Mr Keeping's recent statement cannot and should not be ignored as prejudice or homophobia and is damaging to the good work the community support charity Gay Surrey is recognised for doing across the county. We do not want to see this kind of discrimination happening in other centres around the UK that are owned by British Land PLC.”

Gino Meriano has requested the help of the wider GLB&T community. “Gay Surrey have reported this to the Equality and Human Rights Commission who are investigating this matter. Surrey Police listed this as a Hate Incident reference P3516712 but we still have a long way to go to get the message out there and this is where we need your help.
I aim to deliver a petition to Mr Keeping in January and would ask for your help in signing this petition and support our fight to stop this kind of discrimination.”

www.gaysurrey.org/press.htm
www.ipetitions.com/petition/gs_peacocks