[Insert your address here]
30 October 2012
Mr Matt Britten
Google UK Ltd
Belgrave House
76 Buckingham Palace Road
London SW1W 9TQ
Dear Mr Britten,
Google and the Stonewall ‘Bigot of the Year’ Award
I was very concerned to discover that Google is sponsoring a Stonewall dinner on Thursday 1st November at which the campaign group will make an award crudely entitled ‘Bigot of the Year’.
Those nominated include a Cardinal, an Archbishop, a member of the House of Lords and a Christian politician. All of them are known for their public support for the current legal definition of marriage. Theirs is a mainstream position, with one survey indicating that 70% of adults believe that marriage should continue to be defined as a lifelong union between a man and a woman.
Stonewall may disagree with this position but the mature and proper response is not to resort to ridicule but to engage with the arguments and with the people who put them forward. Instead, Stonewall is choosing to make a mocking and derisory ‘award’, thinly dressed up in political commentary. As far as I can see, the nominees have no right of reply and the motivation seems to be one of humiliation and intimidation of the nominees and, by extension, the many others in our society who hold similar views. By pursuing this course, Stonewall is effectively seeking to stifle debate and to sabotage robust public discussion of an issue of great importance to the future of our society.
It is deeply ironic that an organisation that claims to be opposed to bullying (and even runs an initiative in primary schools, entitled ‘Celebrating Difference’), responds to difference of opinion by resorting to name-calling that, were it not more sinister, would be reminiscent of playground antics.
I am amazed and disappointed that Google is prepared to be associated with this sort of behaviour, especially given that millions of Britons, including myself and no doubt many Google customers, employees and shareholders, hold the view that the current definition of marriage should remain and yet are effectively labelled ‘bigots’ by the existence of this award.
Barclays and Coutts, also sponsors of the event, have already threatened to withdraw their support if the ‘Bigot of the Year’ award is not dropped. I would urge you to withdraw your support for this event and the associated name-calling with immediate effect.
Yours sincerely,