Saturday 12 July 2014

Jersey Equality March (1)



In continuation of our PREVIOUS POSTING as planned the March for Equality went ahead today and was a resounding success. Approximately 700 people turned out to show their dissatisfaction to our government's decision not to grant same sex couples equal rights (previous posting).

Below we offer our readers a quick glimpse of today's March and hope we have captured the positive mood of the event.

Congratulations to REFORM JERSEY for organising such a successful event in such short a time. An event which saw party divisions come together for a day to show support for our gay, Lesbian, and Transgender community.

This is the kind of inclusion we need in order for our government to move forward and into the 21st Century. Politicians from across the Political Divide willing to work with each-other for the common good of the Island and those they represent.

We plan on publishing a number of speeches, from the March/Parade in part two of this event. Speeches from across the political divide.



32 comments:

  1. A great event. Well done to all involved. Equal rights for all! In contrast disgraceful that at least one failed St. Helier district 1 candidate (no names) from the recent by-election took to Facebook to tell people not to attend! #TrueColours

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    1. I thought that failed candidate was in favour of gay people?

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    2. She appears to be in favour of gay people less than she is against Reform Jersey. Pretty sad and petty if you ask me. But then again, not surprising!

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  2. I feel privileged to be a part of today's proceedings and would like to thank Deputy Mezec and Reform Jersey for making it possible.

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  3. I watched it on live stream and it was a good event but well done to Philip Ozouf for getting the CM to come back as early as September on this.
    Under a tight schedule that's excellent news.

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  4. Nice one Jersey :-)

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  5. Fantastic.

    #Unity

    Reform Jersey take a bow. Done for all the right reasons.

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  6. No political people should be trying to make something out of this.
    It was a rally for gay people made possible by gay people.

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  7. Very proud of all involved and wish I had been there in the island to support. Gay marriage won't destroy marriage - but hatred will. Here's my contribution to the fight:

    http://youtu.be/5TfDZcJJT4I

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  8. Wow! I didn't know any of the Reform Jersey people who organised this were Gay? Well done them!

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  9. I'm afraid Ozouf does not merit any congratulations on this and Ian Gorst even less.

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    1. You are joking?
      He has put many years of work into the acceptance of gay people in Jersey and is well respected by the gay community for it.


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  10. How many YEARS has Philip Ozouf been in the States and never brought a proposition for same sex marriage? How many MONTHS has Same Mezec been in the States? The Gay community probably respect Mezec a lot more than they do Ozouf.

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    1. Thanks for confirming this was rushed in.

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  11. Philip Ozouf is happy to be the opportunist and speak at the rally organised by Reform Jersey but in all his years in the house has never organised one of his own.

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    1. I think the gay community recognise Philip Ozouf a little more than any other States member!
      This is a pointless debate, he was there, he spoke and that's that.

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  12. Take a bow Reform Jersey and Deputy Mezec for doing more for the gay community in one day -or rally - than any other Jersey politician has ever done in hundreds of years.

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  13. Yeah, Ozouf was there. He spoke. He milked some applause his two-tier politics/economics do not warrant. Then he slagged off the awful Lefties who he hates. One thing is for sure - October finally gives us the chance to be rid of this arrogant and out of touch politician after years when such a possibility could only have been dreamed about.

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  14. Good piece but will you please change '700 people turned out' - more like 200 but that does not distract from the enormity of the occasion for Jersey

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    1. It's impossible to accurately guess but I'd say much closer to 500. Definitely way more than 200.

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  15. Pity Sam Mezek didn't first put as much effort into getting the inclusion removed from Jersey passports, then we could consider equality for all. Whilst Jersey people have this inclusion, taking away their rights, there can be no equality.

    The holder is not entitled to benefit from European Community Provisions relating to employment or establishment.

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    1. What has this to do with equality? Are you also campaigning against the 5 year rule which actually causes hardship to new arrivals - ie obligation to pay tax but no benefits entitlement

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    2. REFORM JERSEY had an incredible success with around 500 people marching for equality. Those women attending knew the event was also about them and their inequality eg. inadequate crèche facilities, no maternity leave or gender discrimination law.

      Marching on a sunny day in July is great and pleasant. If those attending forget to vote on 15th October ,today’s march will have been in vain; they will wonder why nothing has changed and the same old politicians are voting against progressive social legislation in the future.

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    3. If you want the benefits given by the European Community, you obviously also have to accept the duties - and that is where things go wrong. The Etablsihment and Jersey's financial world know all too well why they do not want to be part of the European Community. OK, fair enough, but then do not beg for the benefit either !

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    4. Give up your Protocol 3 halfway house membership, give up the VAT dodges, and play by the same rules as everyone else, and we can talk about it.

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  16. Great parade, I'll be going next year for sure.
    Now, when the States finally learn it's the 21st Century and at long last it grants equality for all, what 's the likihood of polygamy getting on the agenda?

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  17. Despite all the usual bitterness against the Treasury Minister on here I reckon Philip Ozouf as the only openly gay States Member had to attend.
    The rally would have been strange if he hadn't.

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    1. It was good of him to attend and it was gracious of the organisers to allow him to speak given that he spent the few days before on social media doing nothing but criticise them for holding the rally.

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  18. Agred it was 200 in Royal Square and on the march but at least 500 in Liberation Square. Well done to all.

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  19. Tom Gruchy's Ghost13 July 2014 at 11:00

    It was a great event but let's just hope something big is done to mark what is the nearest we have to our own historical 'revolution' of people rising up to demand change against a corrupt court and government. I'm talking of course about September 28th 1769. Incredibly a vote to finally recognise this hugely important day was won in the States two years ago. Yet last year our unelected Bailiff refused to allow the Jersey flag to be flown! Really, anyone who marched for equality yesterday ought to be aware of and attend anything organised for September 28th. Are Reform up to the task?

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  20. I don't think anyone would have objected to Ozouf attending at all if only he had not done his usual horrible petulance and hatred toward anything and anyone left-leaning in the first place. It should also be remembered that what is said above is true. Ozouf has been in the States for a decade and a half yet he has not brought forward a single thing about equal rights for gay people.

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