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Gay & Lesbian Humanist Association announce death of Dr James Hemmings

Humanists mourn rights defender

Tuesday, 8 January 2008

The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association are mourning the death of gay rights activist and one of its Vice Presidents, Dr James Hemming. The GALHA is the voice for many non-religious people in the lesbian and gay community and promotes a rational humanist approach to homosexuality and to lesbian, gay and bisexual rights as human rights.

James Hemming, a child psychologist, was a strong advocate of sex education in schools. He was a determined campaigner against the infamous Section 28 saying in 1987 "What is necessary for children is that they should have a complete, profound understanding of the full range of human sexuality, without any special bias being put on here and there, or trying to sell one particular line or another. Let them know honestly. If we don't tell them what the facts are through education, they will pick up distorted and garbled views from the mass media and their friends. That is the choice: whether we give children the information they need to grow up as mature citizens, or whether we deliberately seem to be withholding part of it because it is 'wicked'."

Used to standing up and being counted Hemmings also opposed the Blasphemy Law. Used to prosecute the Gay News over it’s decision to publish the poem ‘The Love That Dares To Speak Its Name’ in 1978, James was one of the signatories to 'A Statement Against Blasphemy Law' published by the Committee Against Blasphemy Law.

Cliff James, Secretary of the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association, said "We are very sad to lose Dr Hemming, a great humanist and defender of free thought. It is thanks to the courage and sanity of figures like him that unjust laws, such as Section 28, have been overturned. We hope that his words and deeds will continue to be an inspiration against the irrational forces of prejudice."

www.galha.org