Prime Minister's Reception, 5 March 2009

6 March 2009

This morning Michael has got his breath back, and reports.

"I have to admit, this was my very first time. Not everyone can say that at my age. (I mean, visiting No 10 Downing Street).

What can I say, but --- it was absolutely awesome. What made it so?

Well, above all the Prime Minister's speech, but more of that below.

Then there was the fact that we were making history. This was really and truly the very first LGBT event ever held in Downing Street: so Harriet Harman told us, so the Prime Minister confirmed. Seems incredible. What a moment.

The place was packed --- in fact the only downside of the evening was the noise level. The great suite of reception rooms made a dramatic extended vista of gilded plasterwork, chandeliers, mirrors, paintings... and it was all a stunning backdrop to a crowd of... of who? Of some of the happiest people I've ever been amongst. That was what struck me most --- the happiness, the excitement, the sheer fun of it all. Community workers, campaigners, celebrities... the mix was just right. Perhaps the biggest cheer of all was for Amy Lamé and her partner Jenny, when it was announced that this was their hen night before their Civil Partnership. But there was a lot of competition for the title of "cheer that rocked most chandeliers".

Harriet Harman spoke beautifully, reminding us all that this was the first such event ever (and, she added, perhaps the most fun event Downing Street had yet seen), paying tribute to the work of the Government's LGBT Ministers (they were all there), and then she very gracefully introduced the Prime Minister. Michael Cashman gave the final witty speech of the evening.

Harriet Harman and Michael Cashman were delightful and spoke so well. But there are no two ways about it --- the Prime Minister's speech was the highest point of a night filled with high points. He began by simply and effectively thanking all the LGBT campaigners and workers whom he credited with having achieved so much, and making possible the major equality legislation we've all seen over the last ten years. (And gosh, this means so many of you --- the local LGBT people who are reading this now.)

He said firmly that we haven't finished yet --- we need to make further progress. He warned that no progress is set in stone --- we must continue to be vigilant and defend our freedom and equality against those who would wish to see progress reversed (and he mentioned, as an example of the dangers of regression, California's Proposition 8, which threatens to compulsorily dissolve thousands of real legal marriages retrospectively).

Taken as a whole, the speech sounded to me like a solid and heartening endorsement of the importance of the LGBT community-led sector in Government and Whitehall strategic thinking.

The PM was witty, clearly at ease, clearly glad to be there, and glad that we were all there with him and Sarah to write a new page in LGBT History. He was a star; and the guests showed enthusiastically that we thought so.

And me? Well, I met some wonderful people, whom I look forward to seeing again soon. And lots of old friends (ditto). I even had the honour of supplying a very senior minister with my LGBT History Month pin (they'd lost theirs in the crush).

I hope they put the text of the PM's speech up on the website: if so, we'll link to it from here. And there was a photographer, so with any luck I'll be able to get hold of some nice pix in due course.

Finally got to bed at one. Still more than a bit starry-eyed this morning."

 

More coverage on Pink News, www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11468.html.