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TUC Calls for Immediate Removal of Anti-Gay Joel Edwards from EHRC
 

BRIGHTON, September 8, 2008  –  In a unanimous decision at their annual Congress in Brighton, the trade union movement, which represents 6.5 million members in the UK, condemned the appointment of Joel Edwards to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

Mr. Edwards, as general director of the Evangelical Alliance, has repeatedly made homophobic statements.

The Alliance has aggressively lobbied against legal reforms designed to introduce equality for LGBT people, promoted groups seeking to “cure” gay people and has sought exemptions from the very laws Equality Commissioners are charged with upholding.

Moving the motion today at the TUC conference, James Doherty, the ‘out and proud’ president of the National Union of Journalists, said that Joel Edwards, chair of the EHRC, has consistently opposed equal rights and human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people.

“It is a disgrace that he was appointed by Trevor Phillips in the first place.

“We have sent a clear message that we will not stand for his brand of intolerance and homophobia. He must go and go now before the EHRC is contaminated further by a Commissioner whose beliefs threaten the rights of LGBT people.”

Seconding the motion, Maria Exall, TUC General Council member and chair of the TUC’s LGBT Committee, said that the appointment was a retrograde step which sent the wrong message to the LGBT community.

“The EHRC cannot appoint a commissioner who believes our rights are less important than others.

“This is not an attack on religious freedom, many religious groups do support our human rights and equal rights unlike Edwards.  Our civil rights cannot be subject to the beliefs of others.  That is not equality.”

In a newsletter published by the Evangelical Alliance in 2006, Edward’s organisation complained that the introduction of civil partnerships would inevitably undermine marriage and was “part of a global campaign to impose a homosexual equality agenda on society.”

On the BBC radio’s Thought for the Day, Edwards said: “I think in the sex-obsession war, gay and lesbian people win hands down.”

The full test of the motion from the TUC LGBT Conference which was passed unanimously by TUC Congress at Brighton:

Congress condemns Joel Edwards’ appointment as a Commissioner to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Mr Edwards, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance (EA), describes gay sex and same sex partnerships as ‘sinful’.

Congress is appalled that the Chair of the EHRC, Trevor Philips, took part in the selection process.  The EHRC states that “all Commissioners are appointed on the basis of their experience or knowledge of discrimination and human rights.”  This statement is incongruous with Mr Edwards’ position.  On numerous occasions, Joel Edwards has made homophobic statements and continues to do so.  The EA has opposed recent legislative steps towards equality for LGBT people.

Under the direction of Mr Edwards, the EA has issued public claims such as “homosexual practice is morally wrong” and “a behaviour choice”, in submissions to House of Commons Committees.

Congress affirms that by appointing Mr Edwards as a Commissioner, any confidence that the EHRC will promote further equality for LGBT people has been deeply undermined.

Congress calls on the General Council to condemn the appointment of Mr Edwards and campaign for his immediate removal from the board of the EHRC.  Congress notes that “all (EHRC) Commissioners have a collective responsibility clause in their Code of Conduct” and calls on the General Council to ensure that Mr Edwards and his fellow Commissioners adhere to the code.

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