Stephen Twigg, MP for Liverpool West Derby, has compared the discrimination against Jews with that against gays.

In an article for Pink News, Twigg celebrates the fact that February 2011 marks LGBT History Month in the UK. He points out that it is an opportunity to celebrate, not only the diversity of the LGBT community, but also the diversity of society as a whole.

Twigg suggests that the message put forward by the organisers of the month-long celebration mirrors that of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism and also the PCAA Foundation. The aim of LGBT History Month is to assist recognition of “diversity and cultural pluralism as the positive forces that they are and endeavour to reflect this in all we do”. This is not dissimilar to the goals of the PCAA Foundation, which aims to use education to eliminate discrimination against Jews, along with highlighting the fact that the battle against antisemitism should not be the sole responsibility of the victim.

Twigg states of the fights against homophobia and antisemitism: “We have many common goals and ambitions. Indeed, in 1998 the late widow of Martin Luther King Jr, Coretta Scott King, said: “Homophobia is like racism and antisemitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanise a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood.” Sadly, she continues to be proven right.”

Later, Twigg links the two struggles in a more positive way, drawing attention to Dr Magnus Hirschfield, a leading Jewish doctor and homosexual rights campaigner: “Dr Hirschfeld suffered verbal and physical abuse to champion equality and today Jews still play a proud part in the LGBT community. Perhaps that is why many far-right white nationalists still hold the laughable view that the gay rights movement is simply a tool of the Jews to effect the downfall of society.”

Concluding the article, Twigg suggests that by “sharing and celebrating our successes whilst learning from one another, perhaps we can build a more understanding, proud and diverse society together.”

Stephen Twigg has been in politics for 14 years and has been MP for Liverpool West Derby since May 2010. He is currently Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs.

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