Free Word

When I was a student, as long ago as 1977, Gay News published a poem which graphically described the crucified Christ being fellated by the Roman centurion at the foot of the cross, and thereby drew upon itself a prosecution for blasphemy at the behest of the late Mary Whitehouse. The editor of the student newspaper at my university (Reading) decided that as a gesture of solidarity he would publish the poem. The result: a packed emergency meeting of the Student Union. Christian groups turned out in force to overturn the decision (and, if memory serves me rightly, carried the vote by a close margin). But we progressive union hacks - Liberals and points left - saw it differently. The poem was making a valid point about Christian homophobia, and if Christians were offended they had only themselves to blame. And even if it wasn't making a valid point, freedom of speech was paramount.

How times change. It seems the student newspaper at the University of Cardiff will need to find a new name as well as a new editor.

Of course we intrepid revolutionaries at Reading had the luxury of being able to take it for granted that the Christian Union were Christian enough not to resort to violence.