Tim Farron, DJ Shadow fan and former 80s pop star, putter-down of Theresa May with zingers about her standing outside and sizing up your house, has resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Farron’s reasoning was that he found it “impossible” to align his Christian views with being the head of a “progressive, liberal party”, and I suppose he was basically sick of being asked about gay sex. In my view, he made it more difficult for himself – he could have just stepped down over the performance of the Lib Dems in the election, as they fell way short of expectations. Although pity Brian Paddick, the Lib Dems home affairs spokesman who stepped down over Farron’s stance on gay issues two years too late, only for Farron’s resignation to come just after.
Farron has a point about how relentlessly the media focused on his opinions about gay sex, but also (well, not) because it’s not a nice feeling for LGBT people to be represented by a politician who might secretly reel from you kissing your partner in the street.
Politicians of other faiths are less scrutinised is one argument, which is legitimate to a point. Sadiq Khan, who is Muslim, is often used as the example here. But it’s tough to care about interrogating Khan on his views when he’s voted for gay marriage, and literally led Pride parades while flying the rainbow flag. Tim Farron abstained on that one ...
But there’s another politician’s views on LGBT I’d like to focus on here: our Supreme Leader (thanks, John Crace), Theresa May. Let’s take a quick look at her past vis-a-vis LGBT issues.
In 2000 May voted against the repeal of section 28, the horrid legislation brought in under Margaret Thatcher that banned local authorities and schools from “promoting” homosexuality – read: talking about it or offering information, advice and educational materials – and described gay couples as “pretended family relationships”. It was a law not dissimilar to the current one in Russia persecuting LGBT people. May didn’t bother to vote on the second motion to repeal it in 2003, which passed. She twice voted against the equal age of consent. In 2000, she voted against same-sex adoption.
OK, you might argue, those decisions were made in the past. And it is true that May’s views on gay rights have shifted somewhat over the years – she has said she regrets voting against same-sex adoption and did vote for the Civil Partnership Act and for same-sex marriage. Justine Greening, May’s appointment as education secretary, is a gay woman.
But how do we square that with May jumping into bed with Arlene Foster (two women, disgusting), head of the Democratic Unionist party, which is unabashed in its anti-gay rights stance? Why has May appointed David Lidington as justice minister, a man who has voted against gay rights for almost 30 years, including all of the above votes May herself went against? And add to that list his continuing opposition to same-sex marriage and his wish to repeal the Human Rights Act.
Why, just a month ago as part of her election campaign, did she visit the notoriously homophobic Jesus House, a fundamentalist church that equates homosexuality with bestiality and has supported exorcisms to rid people of same-sex attraction? And why did she call her visit “fantastic” and Jesus House “the most lively church in the UK”? She won’t talk to the survivors of a horrendous fire, or the public in general, but she’s happy to mingle with bigots.
Fantastic to meet members of the congregation @jesushouseuk, one of the most lively growing churches in the UK. pic.twitter.com/H8GPU59A7S
— Theresa May (@theresa_may) May 28, 2017
Why is she pushing for a hard Brexit, which will potentially remove protection for LGBT people? Why does her government have a consistently poor record on supporting those with mental health difficulties when rates of mental illness and suicide are disproportionately high in the LGBT community? Among young LGBT people, 44% have considered suicide, compared with a general figure of 21%, while mental health services are decimated. Why is May OK with LGBT centres having to close because of underfunded councils, thanks to central government cuts?
Contrast all this with Jeremy Corbyn – and here I’ll add my name to the long list of people offering a mea culpa on believing his chances of electoral success were slim – but whom I defended after he misspoke at an LGBT event, given that he has a decades-long record of supporting the LGBT community in parliament and out.
We’re at a point where there are more LGBT politicians in parliament than ever before and, in Holyrood, there is the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, the ludicrously likable Ruth Davidson. She has been vocal with her concern about any DUP supply and confidence arrangement; she is a Protestant Unionist about to marry her partner, an Irish Catholic, and has sought assurances from May that gay rights will be protected. Apparently, she has received those assurances.
But who now trusts a word that comes out of Theresa May’s mouth? She’s U-turned more time than a driving test instructor. She repeatedly talks a good game about looking after minority communities and those who need help, and repeatedly fails to deliver the goods. She does not inspire any confidence in LGBT people. Add us to the many others for which that is also true.
