LGBTQ equality has been weaponised in Birmingham elections, and it's troubling. Claims of harassment, anti-LGBTQ commentary, and homophobic slurs have emerged in Birmingham City Council elections.
Green Party Candidate Targeted
Hanooshi Hassan, a young Green Party candidate standing in Birmingham's local election, claims he was accosted by a fellow Muslim and political rivals while leafleting outside his mosque off Dudley Road in north Edgbaston. 'You can't be Muslim and support the Green Party - they are the gay party, you're the gay party,' he says were the words thrown at him. Hassan, 23, a black Muslim of Sudanese heritage, finds the slur troubling and has reported the incident to police, who are investigating.
Hassan, born and raised in Smethwick and now living off City Road in his ward, described the attitude towards minority rights among some candidates and supporters as 'regressive' and not welcome in a modern British city. 'I will not be intimidated by bigotry,' he said. 'In my ward we are a diverse community filled with white, black, brown people, and with LGBTQ people. My position is that minority rights that protect one minority are there to protect all of us.'
Wider Pattern of Abuse
Hassan is not alone. Other Green Party candidates of all backgrounds have spoken of concerning examples of homophobia and abuse, while gay candidates of all parties have reported a 'normalisation' of anti-LGBT slurs. Current Labour councillor David Barker, the Labour group's LGBT+ officer, said the word 'gay' was being used as a slur and LGBT people presented as a threat to children, reminiscent of darker times when Section 28 was in force.
'It is shocking really to see how LGBT equality is being used as a weapon, particularly targeting faith communities,' said Barker, who represents Brandwood and Kings Heath ward. 'We have a number of candidates in this election led by men who have negative views about LGBT rights, who don't want young people to be told being gay is okay.'
Independent Candidates' Stance
Independent Candidate Alliance co-leaders Akhmed Yakoob and Shakeel Afsar have been prominent campaigners against LGBT education in schools. They don't believe the existence and equality of LGBT people should be positively promoted to young people. In videos posted by Yakoob under the hashtag #degeneracy, he shows Green Party leader Zack Polanski dancing at a Pride event alongside other gay people and allies, calling some onstage 'strippers' and slating the event as 'unsuitable viewing' for children.
At a recent hustings, candidates were asked if they agreed that 'it is okay for children and young people to be taught it's okay to be gay'. Six out of seven panelists raised their hands; only Shakeel Afsar did not. Among those who raised her hand was Nosheen Khalid, an independent candidate in Alum Rock, who later retracted her affirmation, claiming she misunderstood the question.
Police Investigation
West Midlands Police confirmed they received a report of harassment taking place on 17 and 24 April, and enquiries remain ongoing. The incident has been denied by those named as responsible by Hassan.
