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USE OF THE WORD `GAY' ON BBC RADIO

EDM number 2438 in 2005-06, proposed by Lorely Burt on 22/06/2006.

That this House expresses concern that the word `gay' has been used by Radio One presenter Chris Moyles to refer to something `lame or rubbish' on air; notes in particular that Chris Moyles' show is heard by up to 6.5 million listeners, many of them young adults and children; recognises that the use of such language in such a context may encourage or legitimise negative attitudes towards homosexuals; further notes that research compiled by Stonewall found that 51 per cent. of gay men and 30 per cent. of lesbians reported being bullied physically and 82 per cent. of respondents stated that they had been subject to name-calling and other forms of humiliation at school; believes that while freedom of speech is always of immense importance, that wherever possible the best way for that freedom to be exercised is in a responsible, sensitive manner and in full knowledge of the possible repercussions; and calls for the BBC to ensure that all its staff are aware of the possible negative consequences that apparent casual homophobia may have.

This motion has been signed by a total of 39 MPs.

MPDateConstituencyPartyType
Lorely Burt22/06/2006SolihullLiberal DemocratProposed
Stephen Williams22/06/2006Bristol WestLiberal DemocratSeconded
Peter Bottomley26/06/2006Worthing WestConservativeSeconded
Greg Pope26/06/2006HyndburnLabourSeconded
Norman Baker26/06/2006LewesLiberal DemocratSeconded
Matthew Taylor27/06/2006Truro and St AustellLiberal DemocratSeconded
Annette Brooke27/06/2006Mid Dorset and North PooleLiberal DemocratSigned
David Borrow27/06/2006South RibbleLabourSigned
Danny Alexander27/06/2006Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and StrathspeyLiberal DemocratSigned
Mark Lazarowicz28/06/2006Edinburgh North and LeithLabourSigned
Desmond Turner28/06/2006Brighton, KemptownLabourSigned
Andrew George28/06/2006St IvesLiberal DemocratSigned
Derek Conway28/06/2006Old Bexley & SidcupConservativeSigned
Tom Brake28/06/2006Carshalton and WallingtonLiberal DemocratSigned
Alan Simpson28/06/2006Nottingham SouthLabourSigned
Sandra Osborne29/06/2006Ayr, Carrick and CumnockLabourSigned
Jeremy Corbyn29/06/2006Islington NorthLabourSigned
Charles Kennedy03/07/2006Ross, Skye and LochaberLiberal DemocratSigned
Martin Caton03/07/2006GowerLabourSigned
Mike Hancock04/07/2006Portsmouth SouthLiberal DemocratSigned
John Leech04/07/2006Manchester, WithingtonLiberal DemocratSigned
David Howarth04/07/2006CambridgeLiberal DemocratSigned
Ann Cryer06/07/2006KeighleyLabourSigned
Bill Etherington06/07/2006Sunderland NorthLabourSigned
Rudi Vis06/07/2006Finchley and Golders GreenLabourSigned
Simon Hughes10/07/2006North Southwark and BermondseyLiberal DemocratSigned
Edward Davey10/07/2006Kingston and SurbitonLiberal DemocratSigned
Susan Kramer11/07/2006Richmond ParkLiberal DemocratSigned
Evan Harris12/07/2006Oxford West and AbingdonLiberal DemocratSigned
Nick Harvey12/07/2006North DevonLiberal DemocratSigned
John Hemming13/07/2006Birmingham, YardleyLiberal DemocratSigned
Greg Mulholland13/07/2006Leeds North WestLiberal DemocratSigned
Charles Hendry17/07/2006WealdenConservativeSigned
Sarah Teather25/07/2006Brent EastLiberal DemocratSigned
Adam Price09/10/2006Carmarthen East and DinefwrPlaid CymruSigned
John Bercow10/10/2006BuckinghamConservativeSigned
Paul Burstow02/11/2006Sutton and CheamLiberal DemocratSigned
John McDonnell06/11/2006Hayes and HarlingtonLabourSigned
Nicholas Clegg06/11/2006Sheffield, HallamLiberal DemocratSigned

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