TATCHELL: HATE SPEECH FINE “EXCESSIVE”

The conviction and £1,000 fine imposed on a homophobic Christian street preacher in Glasgow, in the UK, has been condemned by gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell as “an attack on free speech and a heavy-handed, excessive response to homophobia.”

Shawn Holes, an American Baptist evangelist touring Britain, was fined £1,000 for telling passers-by in Glasgow city centre: “Homosexuals are deserving of the wrath of God – and so are all other sinners – and they are going to a place called hell.”

In court, he admitted breaching the peace on 18 March by “uttering homophobic remarks” that were “aggravated by religious prejudice”.

“Shawn Holes is obviously homophobic and should not be insulting people with his anti-gay tirades. He should be challenged and people should protest against his intolerance,” said Mr Tatchell. “However, in a democratic, free society it is wrong to prosecute him. Criminalisation is not appropriate.

“The price of freedom of speech is that we sometimes have to put up with opinions that are objectionable and offensive. Just as people should have the right to criticise religion, people of faith should have the right to criticise homosexuality. Only incitements to violence should be illegal.

“Mr Holes’s £1,000 fine is totally disproportionate. Even people who commit robberies and violent assaults sometimes get off with lighter penalties. This prosecution was heavy-handed and an inappropriate use of the law,” said Tatchell.

He further urged the police and prosecuting authorities “to concentrate on tackling serious homophobic hate crimes, instead of wasting public money on petty, distasteful homophobic ranters”.