It’s been a funny old week so far with that stuff from the Pope which some say we should ignore or laugh off but I think there are a lot of queers going home for xmas with it ringing in their ears.

Today Channel 4 announce their shock jock ‘scoop’ factor for the alternative Christmas message and it’s a long long way from Quentin Crisp.

Adam Long emails me tonight with his thoughts…

Channel 4 has decided to invite Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to deliver their alternative Christmas message. This decision is a complete disgrace and should be immediately reversed.

Under the leadership of this vile and obnoxious bigot, Iran has executed countless numbers of gay people in what they call a crackdown on immoral and unislamic behaviour. In 2005, pictures from Iran of two teenagers being hanged in a public square for being gay shocked the world. (Photo is upsetting).

This repugnant regime also actively denies the Holocaust and is a world leader  in propagating anti-semitism and hatred of Jewish people around the world. Meanwhile women are beaten and arrested by Ahmadinejad’s “morality” police if they dress “immodestly”. In Iran this means not adhering to strict Islamic dress codes by showing too much flesh.

Now Channel 4, a broadcaster who until now I held in high esteem for their progressive and enlightened news values, has decided to give a platform to this despot and by doing so are giving legitimacy to the human rights violations he is perpetrating against his own people and the hate he is trying to export around the world.

A diversity of views should be welcomed but surely Channel 4 could have achieved this by inviting someone on who does not persecute gay people or other groups in society. There are so many more worthy people who could have been given this honour instead of this hate-monger.

Unfortunately there is a view in certain left-wing circles that your enemy’s enemy is your friend. Some people who would consider themselves liberal and progressive (Channel 4 Journalists I’m sure) conveniently overlook things as homophobia and misogyny if the countries spouting such bile are, for example, anti-American or critical of Israel. For me being a liberal means respecting basic human rights and standing up against bigotry no matter where it comes from. Ahmadinejad along with the likes of Ratzinger is the very embodiment of such bigotry.

Please e-mail Channel 4 to urge them to reconsider their decision. If they go ahead with giving a platform to this homophobic despot it will be a smack in the face to every gay viewer of the station and reasonable people everywhere.

Do you think anyone else cares?