#18 Don't miss out!

22 January 2021

Occupy London 11 - 19 Nov 11 (1).jpg

Thank you to everyone who asked a question for Peter Tatchell! It was so hard to choose two winners, and three others to send. Keep an eye out for Peter's answers soon!

Our primary winner this week is alert_meaning of Lyons Hall Primary School, who asked a really insightful question about protesting in other countries.

Our secondary winner is careful_science of Faringdon Community College who asked a very interesting question about the future world and what Peter Tatchell sees as possible. Also, special mention to patient_truth of Boutcher C of E Primary School who asked a similar question!

For every Issue, we try to find you the very best experts... and to help you develop your thinking about protest, we bring you the perfect person: Peter Tatchell.

Peter has been campaigning for human rights, democracy, LGBT+ freedom and global justice since 1967. He is well-known for speaking out against human rights violations around the world and has made it his mission to stand up for people who are being treated unfairly. He encourages others to do the same:

“Don’t accept the world as it is. Dream about what the world could be – then help make it happen.”

Peter has lots of experience with protest: amongst other things, he has campaigned to end wars, raised awareness of climate change and given a voice to people who are not allowed to speak out for themselves. He has also helped to create real positive change. For example, he played an important role in the creation of the Equality Act in 2010, which protects people from discrimination. Want to find out more? Watch this video!

Here's what other people have to say about him:

“Unpaid, tireless and he never stops…Peter Tatchell has probably done more for gay and human rights than anyone in Britain over the last 20 years”
Marcelle D’Argy Smith, feminist writer and ex-editor of Cosmopolitian

“He’s very necessary…incredibly brave…doing good work in a world where most people are too timid”.
Elton John, singer and musician

“A national hero”
Sunday Times

Peter is ready to answer your questions. What would you like to ask him? We will ask him the winning questions, plus three others.

Don't forget to tell us why you'd like to know the answer too!

TOP TIP: the best entries will include questions that nobody else has thought of.

The deadline for entries is Friday January 22nd at midday. PLEASE ENTER ONLY ONCE and make sure your work is your own. Good luck!

Comments (47)

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  • peaceful_raccoon | Hammond Junior School B | United Kingdom 15 Jan 2021

    I'd like to ask Peter Tatchell something. Do you always put your protests up on signs and posters or something else because if you have bad weather then won't the sings rip and get ignored? And what would you do when somebody disagrees and you try to get around the major step back and fight for the way that you protest in?

  • emotional_night | Hammond Junior School F | United Kingdom 15 Jan 2021

    How can I/we help to make the the world a better place, stop climate change and try to save everything I/we hold dear?
    I would like to know the answer to this Question because we can always make things better no matter how good or perfect they are and the the world is everything we know. I'd love to know how to help and contribute to stop Climate Change even more than I do now because for us it is everything and even what it's not or was and I don't to lose it and all the cute little fluffy animals with it( or for that matter any of the animals even the ones that aren't cute and fluffy!).
    Thanks for reading!!!
    emotional_night xxx

  • decisive_redcurrant | Michael Faraday Primary School | United Kingdom 15 Jan 2021

    This is not a question but I would just like to ask what if you have a ready put your question down on the other post do you still have to copy and paste it to like this one

  • careful_moose | Hammond Junior School F | United Kingdom 15 Jan 2021

    Hi, my question is that do you think celebrities and rich people should support a campaign to make a successful one? I would like to know that because people take actors and singers and rich people more seriously and the listen to them more. thank you from careful_moose.

  • authentic_earth | Michael Faraday Primary School | United Kingdom 15 Jan 2021

    I would like to ask Peter Tatchell , what inspired or encouraged to campaign for Human rights?

    The reason why I am asking this is because it is interesting to know how someone just decides to be doing this for the world with knowing that they put themselves on the line. Also, it is very inspiring what you are doing to our planet to make it a better place. It is good to know that there are still kind and unselfish people in the world.
    Thank you for what you are doing to help us to get through these tough times.
    It is because people like you are helping being engaged in our learning even more.

  • decisive_redcurrant | Michael Faraday Primary School | United Kingdom 15 Jan 2021

    My question is for Peter and it is a protester do you think that it is harder for people to change your mindset about something or if it is easier for people to change your mindset about something

  • enigmatic_beaver | Whyteleafe School E | United Kingdom 15 Jan 2021

    My question for Peter is do you get a lot of disagreement and anger towards your views and what you protest for thank you

  • comfortable_chemistry | Michael Faraday Primary School | United Kingdom 15 Jan 2021

    My questions for Peter Tatchell are: What encouraged you to protest at such a young age during a time of mass discrimination? As the director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation how does the foundation it help to impact society?

  • reflective_grasshopper | Lyons Hall Primary School B | United Kingdom 15 Jan 2021

    Is violence the best answer in some cases when peaceful protest does not work? I want to know because of the news this week.

  • loyal_piano | Hammond Junior School B | United Kingdom 15 Jan 2021

    hi this is my Question do you always need sighns to heard your voice and do you peter agree what people are saying for the democracy i want to know because sometimes i see on the internet and other places.people make posters and paper and hold them up.I also want to know because some people don't really agree with other people some time for the democracy.

  • sceptical_rock | Preston Manor School | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 16 Jan 2021

    My questions for Peter Tatchell are : What motivated you during these protests? What do you do when you get lot of hate or disagreement towards your protest? Also I was asking what motivated him because there is usually a flashback story or inspiring story behind many people's success and I want to know if it's the same for him! :D

  • alert_meaning | Lyons Hall Primary School B | United Kingdom 16 Jan 2021

    How can people in countries like russia, north korea and china stand up for what they believe in?
    Because if i were in their shoes i wouldnt know what to do without getting punished.

  • discreet_drum | Upton Cross Primary School | United Kingdom 16 Jan 2021

    My questions are:
    1. Have you always wanted to be a protestor? And what inspired you to be one? I want to know this because you put in a lot of effort to put your protests forward for what you believe in.

    2. If there's two issues that you support, but they conflict with each other, how would you choose who to support in the end, as an example, girls changing rooms, who should decide who should use it and what if that puts off girls using the changing rooms?
    I want to know this because in a situation like this, I would expect that girls - only activities would only have people that were born as girls. Should areas or activities that are not only for people who are born as girls, now be labelled as ‘mixed girls’ so people are aware?

  • delightful_effort | Michael Faraday Primary School | United Kingdom 16 Jan 2021

    I would like to ask Peter Tatchell,
    Do you ever protest on any social media and if you do, when do you do so and do you mostly get positive comments or negative comments?
    I am asking this because I am aware that this could happen and I would really like to know.
    I would also like to thank you for standing up to Human Rights!

  • ethical_cliff | Maritime Academy | United Kingdom 17 Jan 2021

    How hard is it to campain when people tell you to leave things alone and not protest for what you think is right

  • patient_truth | Boutcher C of E Primary School | United Kingdom 17 Jan 2021

    My question for Peter Tatchell is:
    Do you believe in such a thing as a perfect world - a utopia where everybody lives equally and happily, getting what they deserve and is this what you are striving to accomplish during your lifetime? From the very beginning, is it the same thing that have driven you this far, and have you ever had a change of heart?
    Personally, I find it deeply intriguing to find out more about major actions such as Mr Tatchell's, which is the reason behind these questions.

    patient_truth

  • careful_science | Faringdon Community College | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 18 Jan 2021

    My question for Peer Tatchell is:

    Do you think that if enough people campaign for equality and peace, we could make a 'perfect world' where everybody is equal and has equal opportunities or do you think that the world, no matter how hard we try and change it, will always have some dark element that we can't remove? If you do think that we could make a 'perfect world' or a utopian lifestyle, what would we have to do and will it have to be all inclusive and everybody has to help in someway? I have personally gone to quite a few protests and demonstrations for an assortment of things (blm, lgbtq+ ect...) and I would like to know if I should keep going and that it will make a change.

    This is my question, hope you enjoyed.
    -careful_science

  • extraordinary_cymbals | Penketh Primary School | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 18 Jan 2021

    My question is what is the largest riot to take place in the uk and what year did it happen?

  • extraordinary_olive | Portobello High School | United Kingdom 18 Jan 2021

    My question is, how would you describe your first protest in detail? What was going on in your head when you were doing it? What were you feeling? What made you protest in the first place, and what do you think that protest might have changed?

  • skillful_conclusion | Birchwood C of E Primary School | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    Hi, I would like to ask him - do you know why all these protests are happening for some reason? My reason why I want to ask that is because it's getting to harsh especially for black lives matter. That's because people treat people with black skin differently to white people but not in a nice way.#
    Thank You for reading it bye
    skillful_conclusion

  • marvellous_chocolate | Birchwood C of E Primary School | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    My question for peter is do you ever get disagreement and does it stop you from doing it and what’s it like having your job.

  • astounding_writer | Birchwood C of E Primary School | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    My question is does violence solve anything? Because it has not solved Black Lives Matter.

  • healthy_satsuma | Birchwood C of E Primary School | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    Hello so I would actually like to ask you, have you ever thought to give up once? Do you ever think people would ever be racist if they didn’t like your opinion or try to say mean things about your speeches and might give up on their life's if they get told mean things?

  • clever_volcano | Hammond Junior School F | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    My question is do you always do peaceful protests or has there ever been a time were you had to fight for what you want because violence doesn't always make your voice heard,also have you ever clashed with another protest?

  • clever_forest | Cheam Common Junior Academy | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    This is my question! :D
    What/Who inspired you to help or to do this? I want to know this question because you can not just randomly help without even knowing why.

  • decisive_politics | Lyons Hall Primary School D | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    I would like to ask Peter Tatchell a question. Why are protests used?

  • ambitious_blackberry | Preston Manor School | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    My question to Peter Tatchell is what do you do if someone disapproves in relation to your protests and I want to know what you would do if your protest does not work?

  • neat_situation | Preston Manor School | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    Hi, i would like to ask you how did you tell your parents that you were gay and how did they react. I want to know this because i have seen many people on social media coming out to there parents, and many of them did not support there kids. How did your parents take it?

  • storytelling_king | Boutcher CofE Primary A | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    I would like to ask Peter Tatchell a question. What is the most effective way of protest? If you are violent, does it work more? How far can you take the protest?

  • ambitious_blackberry | Preston Manor School | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    My question is:
    Since 1967 how many protests do you think you have done and what makes you want to do these protests and why?

  • eager_reflection | Cheam Park Farm Primary | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    eager_reflection here,
    I would like to ask Peter Tatchell:
    Why do some protests not work or why do they not make the government make any changes? I would like to ask this because I saw on the BLM protest that protesters affected the people but governments across the world haven't made any new laws yet concerning this.
    In addition, I would like to ask: What has been your biggest and most rewarding achievement in your life? I would like to ask this because from what I've read you have done lots of successful and amazing things and so I would like to find out the one that stood out from the rest.
    My final question is: What age do you think is appropriate for protesting? This is because here at the Burnet News Club we are all children.
    Thanks for reading.

  • approachable_panther | Manor Park Primary Academy | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    My Question is :
    How did you start doing protests and why and what made you want to do these protests?

  • reflective_artic_fox | Hammond Junior School C | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    Hello, reflective_artic_fox here, my questions for Peter Tatchell is as following:
    'Do you think that all protests have a solution for them?'
    I would like to ask this because there are a lot of protests going on, but I think that it would be intriguing to know if some protests are or were started just for its own sake, and maybe ones that don't necessarily have a answer, but it is being protested about because people want to.
    My second question is:
    'Do you think that protests are the only way to get your voice heard?'
    I am asking this because protests are usually seen as a way to get votes heard and things changed. But is it the only way for that to happen?
    reflective_artic_fox

  • reflective_artic_fox | Hammond Junior School C | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    votes=voices

  • wondrous_orca | Cheam Common Junior Academy | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 19 Jan 2021

    My question is:
    What is the better way to protest, online or offline? What is the difference between them? Is one way more effective than the other?
    I'd like to know the answer because it has been said a lot that in-person protests are more effective. Is this true?

  • bright_independence | Evelyn Street Primary School | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 20 Jan 2021

    I would like to ask Peter 'Why do people have to protest' and 'Do you think we should protest'.

  • analytical_sea | Hammond Junior School F | United Kingdom 20 Jan 2021

    I would like to ask Peter, what keeps him going when people don't agree, look down on you, or say not very nice things - because that can be hard to deal with, puts you down, and you always get people like that with everything. Thanks, analytical_sea xx

  • ethical_cliff | Maritime Academy | United Kingdom 20 Jan 2021

    I would like to ask people what top tips do you have for people like me who wants to make a difference and heal the world

  • selfreliant_snake | Evelyn Street Primary School | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 20 Jan 2021

    My question for Peter Tatchell is:
    What is the most difficult protest you campaigned at and what were you campaigning for?
    I would like to know this because not all protests are peaceful and some people may not like what the campaign is for. Some people are against things such as LGBT+ freedom and certain human rights, even though ALL people should be treated equally.

  • jovial_eel | Lyons Hall Primary School D | United Kingdom 20 Jan 2021

    How can we make the world a better place if most of the stuff we used to do when we made it worse?

    And does police brutality solve everything because that is what a lot of police officers do?

  • daring_whale | Cheam Common Junior Academy | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 21 Jan 2021

    Hi, this is my question. How do you lay out your opinions? How do you know that something is right or wrong? Do you do pros and cons and then protest when their is more cons or do you protest for anything that seems unfair? Also I just want to say thank you for all of your work!

  • sympathetic_horse | Lyons Hall Primary School F | United Kingdom 21 Jan 2021

    I would like to ask what is something me and my class friends could do in our local area to change something we don't believe in. How do you start a debate or change just on your own and how do you get people to listen to you?

  • insightful_orca | Ormiston Bushfield Academy A | United Kingdom | United Kingdom 21 Jan 2021

    The question that I would ask is “What’s the most meaningful campaign that you have been involved in?” I would ask this question because it would be interesting to understand what happens when someone is campaigning for something that they strongly believe in. I think that if people find out more about why you are campaigning, then they might want to join in and they can then spread the word about the amazing things the campaign stands for. I would also ask this question because I would like to get involved in campaigns and this may help me to join.

  • jovial_eel | Lyons Hall Primary School D | United Kingdom 22 Jan 2021

    Aren’t you worried that people with extremist views (for example: religion/economics/health/politics) will use their right to protest to undermine our liberal democracy?

  • magical_clarinet | Hammond Junior School B | United Kingdom 22 Jan 2021

    My question is Do we actually need to be violent to get your voice heard ? My other question is How do you get your voice heard about everything ?

  • ingenious_independence | Upton Cross Primary School | United Kingdom 22 Jan 2021

    What do you hope to achieve by making sexuality a political issue?

    I ask this because for how long you have been doing this and changing peoples minds are you now creating a revolution for sexuality?

  • daring_forest | Willowtown Community Primary School | United Kingdom 22 Jan 2021

    do you think that the protest has to be violent for your voice to be heard and do small protests make a change.