In Praise of Peter Tatchell

It is a great shame that Peter Tatchell has decided to ditch his Green Party bid to become the MP for Oxford East at the next election. He took the doctor's advice and pulled out of his campaign. It is to his eternal credit that he continues with his brave, fearless and worthy work despite the injuries he has sustained over the years.

I do not agree with Tatchell on some things. But I am a supporter of his pro democracy and pro human rights campaigns and I also support the gay rights work he has done over many years. He is an ardent left wing libertarian, and therefore I do not always see eye to eye with his position. But the fact he is a grassroots activist and a libertarian means that I regard the basis of his politics with a positive lens.

Tatchell's base position is that things are achieved by people, individuals, in concert with one another. He is a libertarian because he places the importance and emphasis for change and progress with people, not the state. His solutions don't come from trusting government, but by trusting people.

He is living proof that by fighting and campaigning at grassroots level, things can be achieved. Awareness can be raised, opinions can be altered. All without the curse of authoritarian action or transgression from statist forces.

He carries on, where most would have long given up. The beatings he has sustained and the hateful jeering he has endured (often by vicious, rabid elements in the public arena, like the Daily Mail) has failed to deter him.

What a legend, and what a pioneer.

Whether I agree with his aims or not, Tatchell is a true libertarian warrior and should be respected for his principles.