PTT Chair Stephen Harvie reports on the 2022 activities of the Pink Triangle Trust
The Winter Solstice has passed and, while the trustees of the Pink Triangle Trust look forward to the new year and the opportunities that this will afford, it is appropriate that we reflect upon our many achievements in 2022.
As you are doubtless aware, the PTT exists to provide financial assistance and support to LGBTQ+ and Humanist causes throughout the world.
During 2022 the Trust has made substantial donations to many causes both national and international, including Just Like Us, an LGBT+ young people’s charity in the UK which works with schools and young people across the UK to ensure LGBT+ young people can thrive and The Naz and Matt Foundation— motto: “Be the person you were born to be”—for its mission to never let religion, any religion, come in the way of the unconditional love between parents and their children.
We also made a substantial donation to the Ugandan Humanist Schools Trust which helps a number of schools in Uganda to provide a liberal secular education to needy children irrespective of race or faith.
One of the most vital causes we were able to support was from Rainbow Sunrise Mapambazuko, an LGBT+ organisation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which appealed for funds to relocate seven (trans) women from an area where they were faced with the choice of being burned as witches or a lifetime of forced servitude.
The PTT made numerous other donations.
It is worth mentioning that no trustee of the charity claimed any expenses in 2021
At our AGM, Stephen Harvie was appointed chair, Hugo Estrella was appointed secretary and Diesel Balaam agreed to continue as treasurer. Thanks were also given to John Marshall and Nigel Jones for their continuing hard work on behalf of the PTT.
We are also indebted to Barry Duke for his on-going hard work keeping the PTT website and our Facebook page running and up to date.
The Pink Humanist carried many insightful articles highlighting the highs and lows of LGBTQ+ and Humanist life in 2022 and was unstinting in its criticism of the abuses of religious hypocrisy and privilege.
A happy, prosperous, and peace new year to all.
Pink Triangle Trust contribution helped fund Tom Paine’s Bones
When Manchester-based artist Polyp (aka Paul Fitzgerald) began a crowdfunder for a graphic novel about evolutionary political campaigner Thomas Paine (1774–1809)—who was called ‘a dirty little atheist’ by US President Theodore Roosevelt—it chipped in £200 to help bring the book to fruition.
It’s not hard to see why Roosevelt, among many, vilified Thomas Paine. For the renowned rationalist wrote in The Age of Reason (1792): “Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the Bible is filled it would be more consistent that we call it the word of a demon than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize.”
Paine was completely unrestrained in his Christianity-bashing fervor, so naturally, he was viciously attacked for his vitriolic analyses of the Bible.
Roosevelt’s description of Paine, according to J H McKenna Ph.D. “has as many errors in it as words, since Paine was fastidiously clean, stood taller than most of his contemporaries at five feet ten inches, and was a professed believer in God.”
Then, a couple of years back, I learned that British artist Polyp (aka Paul Fitzgerald), had launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to create a graphic novel called Tom Paine’s Bones: A Fantastical Visual Biography.
I enthusiastically chipped in a few pounds, and so did the British LGBT charity The Pink Triangle Trust. Then this week I got word that Fitzgerald had raised enough to complete his project—around £18,000—and that his publication will be launched in Manchester on May 31.
In an interview with Visit Manchester—Fitzgerald, a Mancunian—was asked what inspired him. He replied:
I recall seeing memes of his quotes and so on, but no light bulb moment … he just slowly grew on me, until I felt a deep admiration and respect and wanted to know much more about him. I’m outraged by the fact that someone, who so brilliantly expressed so many very new, radical ideas (e.g. democracy!), and who actively changed the course of global culture and political history, has been whitewashed out of history.
On a personal level I really relate to him: his love of rationality and science, astronomy in particular, really resonates with me … He was constantly alienating people with his controversial (but to me utterly reasonable) unpopular opinions, and his rigid adherence to logic and reason, and he just wouldn’t back down, no matter what the cost …
In recounting the mystery of Paine’s missing skeleton, Fitzgerald said:
Although Paine died in America in 1809 and was originally buried in New York, in 1819 his bones were dug up! Why? The former Paine critic and English reformer William Cobbett decided that he wanted to give Paine a proper burial … in England! In turn, Cobbett took his bones all the way across the Atlantic, eventually reaching Liverpool. Then he proceeded to try to take this unusual cargo to Manchester, but only got as far as Salford!
It is potentially the case that Cobbett and Paine’s bones were turned away from entering Manchester itself, as the authorities were concerned about igniting radical tensions, as this was only shortly after the Peterloo Massacre.
Historians estimate that there were 18 deaths at Peterloo among those who gathered to demand voting rights for all, including the tragic death of an unborn child. There were also more than 650 injured, and the story is told in Peterloo: Witnesses a Massacre, Fitzgerald’s earlier graphic novel.
Meanwhile, in the US, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) has expressed it appreciation of a bill introduced in February this year by Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., to authorize the construction of a long-overdue memorial to Thomas Paine.
Said Raskin, above:
Tom Paine was a person so far ahead of his time that his work still challenges us in significant ways today to build a more democratic society. This luminary patriot of the Enlightenment and the American Revolution inspired people in the colonies not only to overthrow the tyranny of faraway kings but to launch a nation founded on principles of democratic self-government, the rights of men and of women, and reason and science.
Despite his catalytic role in founding America and our constitutional republic, Paine remains too often on the dark outskirts of history. It is way past time for Congress to give Paine the central place of respect and awe he deserves in our nation’s capital. This memorial to Paine — amazingly, already pre-funded with a flood of voluntary contributions and pledges from private citizens—will be a powerful and dramatic addition to the symbolic life of Washington, D.C.
The legislation will authorize the Thomas Paine Memorial Association to establish the commemorative work in the District of Columbia. The association is working with renowned sculptor Zenos Frudakis, and the statue will be paid for through private funds. The Thomas Paine Memorial Association is the recipient of a very generous matching gift from Todd Stiefel and the Stiefel Freethought Foundation.
Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president and co-founder who serves as the secretary of the Thomas Paine Memorial Association commented:
We can think of no one better suited to champion the resolution to dedicate a memorial to our ‘Forgotten Founder’ Thomas Paine than Rep. Jamie Raskin. Raskin embodies Paine’s dedication to reason, democracy, liberty and humanistic values. We are honored to be working with him to help restore Thomas Paine to his rightful place in our country’s history.
The bill has attracted the endorsement of Harvey J. Kaye, author of Thomas Paine: Firebrand of Revolution and Thomas Paine and the Promise of America, who stated:
With good reason Americans in every generation have claimed Paine as their champion as they sought to advance freedom, equality and democracy in the United States.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is asking its 35,000-plus-membership to enlist sponsorship and support of the bill from their senators and members of Congress.
Humanist school in Uganda gets generous donation from the Pink Triangle Trust
THERE are very few educational facilities in Africa that encourage pupils to embrace positive attitudes towards LGBT people, but the Isaac Newton High School in Katera, Masaka, is one notable exception, providing lessons based on Humanist principles rather than on divisive religious dogma and fear of ‘the other.’
Image via Flickr
Director of the school is Peter Kisirinya who says:
I am very open to the gay community the world over and I have a positive outlook. As you know I have been creating a supportive environment in school for children of all sexual orientations. I am happy that PTT [Pink Triangle Trust] and other gay groups have been supporting humanist Schools for some time.
When the PTT learned that the school had a pressing need for dining furniture it donated £2,000 of the £3,000 required to provide 100 chairs and 50 dining tables.
When Steve Hurd, chair of the Ugandan Schools Trust learned of the donation he responded by saying:
Peter will be delighted to be able to get the dining hall up and running. He has wanted the facility for years so that dining can become a social occasion in the school.
PTT Secretary George Broadhead added:
The PTT has always tried to support struggling Humanist organisations and, prior to this, has provided funding for two other Humanist schools in Uganda. It has also funded the Uganda Humanist Schools Trust and Nigerian Humanist Association.
The school is also supported by UK-based North East Humanists who provide scholarships for students.
They point out that Isaac Newton is a humanist school which accepts children of all religions. It provides education for around 130 students, who study subjects such as biology, physics, chemistry, agriculture, fine arts, music, political education and history
The school caters for orphaned children who are running families on their own, children in disadvantaged families who cannot afford secondary education, abandoned children who can be placed in foster homes near the school, and children who can pay fees to generate income and support the disadvantaged children.
NEH raises funds to support students through a year at the school, with the children sponsored ranging from 12 to 17 years of age.
The annual cost of tuition for each child is £300, including a school uniform.
Jean and Barrie Berkley from NEH, as well as Roger McAdam and Jack Jeffrey have all visited the school which continues to grow and thrive with the support of North East Humanists and other Humanist groups.
Rainbows Across Borders receives a generous donation from The Pink Triangle Trust
Money will help LGBT asylum seekers in Britain
RAINBOWS Across Borders, a UK-based voluntary self-help group for lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender (LGBT) asylum seekers who are fleeing persecution of oppressive homophobic/transphobic regimes has been given a £500 donation by The Pink Triangle Trust.
, a UK-based voluntary self-help group for lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender (LGBT) asylum seekers who are fleeing persecution of oppressive homophobic/transphobic regimes has been given a £500 donation by The Pink Triangle Trust.
Photo courtesy of Rainbows Across Borders
In a letter of thanks to the PTT, the group, which operates out of Croydon in south London, said:
It is noted by members of Rainbows Across Borders that the PTT has been our constant supporter: not only in the encouragement given for what we constantly try to achieve, but, also for the regularity of the of financial support provided to enable the group to cover the cost to cover the fees of their meetings.
It added that:
We continue to struggle through lack of resources to fulfil many of our objectives. However, what we are proud of since our inception in January 2013 is that no member who has been constant & involved with the group has been removed & sent back to their countries of origin. It’s calculated that the numbers ‘granted leave to remain’ in the UK, so far is 194.
The group pursues policies of integration with LGBT Groups in Croydon and elsewhere. It provides a secure and safe space for members to share experiences as LGBT asylum seekers and to mutually build confidence and knowledge about the asylum process as it affects the individual applicant. It’s supported by those who have already been granted leave to stay in the United Kingdom.
The group also supports the work of campaigning groups and charities and refers members to those that campaign and provide legal and other support services for asylum seekers.
You can contact RAB at info@rainbowsacrossborders.org.uk.
It Annual Report for 2013–14 is now available to download (pdf format).
Help for Humanist Empowerment of Livelihoods in Uganda (HELU)
IN the autumn of 2015, the Pink Triangle Trust provided funding for the Ugandan Humanist organisation HELU to build a classroom.
Here HELU’s Publicity Secretary AYELLA COLLINS describes the organisation, its aims and activities.
Humanist Empowerment of Livelihoods in Uganda (HELU) is a programme established in 2009. Its first project was to empower vulnerable girls, including rape victims and child mothers. The programme operates in Gulu, a district in Northern Uganda.
Gulu experienced war between government forces and a rebel group called the Lord’s Resistance Army for two decades, and since 2007 Gulu has been a post-conflict zone.
Post-conflict zone status birthed an idea to start up a humanist organisation in 2009. This was made possible through funding from a Norwegian humanist group.
The Empowering Vulnerable Girls project serves to teach girls skills that include tailoring, hairdressing, baking and confectionery, basic farming, training in business management and income-generating activities.
A vocational training centre and a demonstration farm are in place to provide training and alternative shelters for those denied rights to own land. It also provides temporary shelter for any LGBTI discrimination victims and for those accused of witchcraft. Most of the beneficiaries have children. To keep the kids busy while the mothers attended classes a pre-school was established.
In January 2015 an American charity KidsHeartKids provided funding for two classrooms. A third classroom in now being constructed. We also undertake the following activities:
• Human rights and advocacy training.
• Training/workshops on humanism.
• Training for business management and income-generating activities.
• Basic farming.
• Counselling and guidance and corporate social responsibilities.
Donation from UK-based Pink Triangle Trust benefits Uganda humanist organisation
THE Kasese United Humanist Association announced in September 2018 that it had received a generous donation from UK-based charity the Pink Triangle Trust (PTT).
The money was used to purchase guitars and other equipment for the Bizoha Humanist Center, which promotes science, humanism and reason to people in Kasese and beyond.Four guitars, a piano/keyboard and a keyboard stand; a drum set comprising five drums, its stand, seat and three metal plates; a power extension cable; a DSTV decoder and dish, and a large curved television set (43 inches) were purchased as a result of the donation.
Pink Triangle Trust supports right of ex-Muslims to march in London Pride
GEORGE BROADHEAD, Secretary of the UK LGBT charity the Pink Triangle Trust—publisher of The Pink Humanist – describes as ‘baseless nonsense’ an accusation that Islamophobia was generated by the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, who participated in London Pride in July 2017
London Pride this year gave members of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain a marvellous opportunity to raise their profile, and to condemn hardline Islamism for impeding human rights, and LGBT rights in particular. However, within hours of the march, pressure was put on the organisers of Pride to ban CEMB members from taking part in future parades. Most of that pressure came from the East London Mosque.
The organisers then promised to consider banning the group, a move that infuriated the PTT’s George Broadhead who said in a statement that “this decision is appalling. The accusation from the East London Mosque that the CEMB was inciting hatred against Muslims at this year’s London Pride event is baseless nonsense.
“East London Mosque seems to have made a brazen attempt to deflect criticism of its bad record on LGBT rights.
“It has a history of inviting ultra homophobic speakers to its meetings. Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has revealed that he has asked the mosque to meet LGBT Muslims 11 times since 2015 – and all his invitations had been rejected. Pride in London seems to be ignoring the widespread Islamic hostility to LGBT+ relationships and rights, notably the barbaric treatment of LGBT+ people in Islamic theocracies like Saudi Arabia in which Sharia Law dictates that they are publicly beheaded, stoned or flogged.
“The Islamic penalty for apostasy (abandoning the religion) is death, and this of course applies to members of the CEMB, and a recent survey has indicated that more than half of British Muslims (52 percent) think homosexuality should be illegal and nearly half (47 percent) think it is inappropriate for gay people to teach in schools.
“The PTT maintains that the CEMB has every right to draw attention to hostility from Islam and urges Pride in London organisers not to place religion beyond criticism. This would be a highly regressive step and contrary to its presumed aim to counter homophobia from any source.”
Later, in August, Mohammed Shafiq, Chief Executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, described the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain as a “rampant Islamophobic organisation” that has made its mission “to demonise Islam and the religious beliefs of Muslims.”
According to this report, in a televised debate on Russia Today, Shafiq commented on the presence of CEMB members at the London Pride rally on July 8 who carried signs bearing slogans like “We’re here. We’re kaffir. Get used to it”, “Celebrating apostasy” and “Make LGBT rights universal”.
They also displayed a list of Muslim states that punish homosexuality with the death penalty – including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen and Pakistan.
Shafiq added: “Let’s just say, is there a council of ex-Christians? Is there a Council of ex-Jews? A Council of ex-Hindus? A Council of ex-Sikhs?”
As a matter of fact, Mr Shafiq, there are organisations for people other than Muslims who have ditched religion. ExChristian.Net is one. Then there’s Recovering From Religion, and The New Humanist’s Apostasy Project which features accounts of people of all faiths who now consider themselves non-believers. The Clergy Project has a pretty extensive list of organisations for apostates.
Shafiq said he was puzzled that people who opted to cut ties with Islam continued to meddle is Muslim affairs.
“Let’s accept that they’ve got a right to leave Islam – then why are they constantly obsessed about Islam? They need to get a life. Move on. Enjoy their life and their ‘new freedom’ as they tell us,” said Shafiq.
The CEMB participation in Pride was met with outrage from devout worshippers and British Muslim organisations – the East London Mosque in particular – but the group rejected criticism of their actions, saying: “We don’t need your permission to march for LGBT rights or the rights of apostates.”
Despite being met with heavy criticism, the group’s spokesman Jimmy Bangash confirmed that members of the Council of ex-Muslims would continue to loudly protest the persecution of minorities within Islam and any other faith groups.
He added: “If religion is legislating against people, like gays, we will challenge that. And we will challenge that boldly. We will challenge that in meaningful ways, holding signs that provoke thought.”
Human rights activist Peter Tatchell backed Mr Bangash’s sentiments, arguing that the group’s participation in the LGBT protest was justified.
“Hatred against people is always wrong, whether they’d be Muslim or anyone else. But criticising bigoted intolerant ideas is entirely right and proper.”
Tatchell said the group was merely “targeting Islamist homophobia, [not] Muslim people or even Islam, in general.”
He added: “The Council of ex-Muslims has never criticised or condemned Muslim people. It has only condemned and criticised Islamist extremists, who advocate hatred and violence against LGBT people.”
Shafiq’s questions and comments were batted down by Bangash, who describes himself as “a British Pakistani, who grew up as a gay individual in a Muslim family.”
He added: “Asking us to leave the religion and then be silent about our kin across the world, who are being victimised by the Muslim states, is an absurd request.”
According to him, the group has no intentions of spreading Islamophobia in the British society:
“This is my community. I have no interest in galvanising hate against Muslims because I’ll be subjected to that same hate.”
The CEMB’s Maryam Namazie explained in an op-ed for the Freethinker that “the very reason CEMB was at Pride was to combat hate and to highlight the 13 states under Islamic rule that kill gay men (14 if we include Daesh-held territories). We included placards on the East London mosque to bring attention to the fact that there are mosques here in Britain that promote the death penalty for homosexuality and apostasy.
“As ex-Muslims, we are at risk from hate preachers that speak at some mosques and universities; our gay members are at an increased risk.
“The East London Mosque has a long history of hosting hate preachers who incite against blasphemers, apostates and homosexuals so we felt naming and shaming them was very apt.
“In our experience, whenever incitement to hate and violence has been exposed, it is explained away as mere ‘theology’. We beg to differ.”
She alleged that the mosque “is part and parcel of the Islamist movement. The East London Mosque (and its affiliate, the London Muslim Centre) share the ideology of the Jamaat-e-Islami – the Salafis of South Asia so their promotion of an Islamist worldview that imposes the death penalty for homosexuality, apostasy and blasphemy is business as usual.
“Self-appointed ‘Muslim leaders’ say our placards were ‘Islamophobic’. But in our point of view, Islam, like all religions, is homophobic. Why is it not possible to say this without accusations of Islamophobia?”
The Pink Triangle Trust 