PM admits Tories were 'wrong' about gay rights in past

PM admits Tories were 'wrong' about gay rights in past

Theresa May today admitted the Tories have been 'wrong' on gay rights in the past and that some people will be 'sceptical' about their bid to champion equality.

The Prime Minister said that both she and the Conservatives have 'come a long way' in changing their views. 

And she said she is 'proud' of her party's role in tackling discrimination in recent years, but admitted there is 'much more to do'.

She made the comments to mark the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act, which partially decriminalised homosexuality in England and Wales.

Theresa May, pictured in Desenzano del Garda in Italy this week, where she is on holiday with her husband Philip, has admitted her party have been wrong on gay rights in the past

In a comment piece for PinkNews, Mrs May wrote: 'I am proud of the role my party has played in recent years in advocating a Britain which seeks to end discrimination on the grounds of sexuality or gender identity, but I acknowledge where we have been wrong on these issues in the past.

'There will justifiably be scepticism about the positions taken and votes cast down through the years by the Conservative Party, and by me, compared to where we are now.

FOUR IN TEN BRITS STILL THINK GAY SEX IS UNNATURAL 

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Four in 10 Britons believe that gay sex is unnatural - 50 years after homosexuality was partially decriminalised in the UK, a survey has found.

The YouGov poll carried out for PinkNews found that, of those who have an opinion, 42% of people think gay sex is not natural.

Just under half of those surveyed (48%), believe that primary school children should not be taught about gay relationships in school.

More than one third (36%, excluding those who said 'don't know') disapprove of gay men adopting.

The poll suggested that Conservative and Brexit supporters were more likely to oppose gay rights than Labour or Remain voters.

It found three in five Brexit voters believe gay sex is unnatural, compared to 25% of Remain voters. 

And 68% of Tory voters who expressed an opinion believe that children should not be taught about gay relationships in primary school.

This compared to 70% of Labour and 74% of Liberal Democrat 2017 voters.

PinkNews chief executive Benjamin Cohen said: 'It is depressing that 50 years on from the Sexual Offences Act that so many people still think that gay sex is unnatural, and that a third oppose gay couples having children.' 

 

'But like the country we serve, my party and I have come a long way.'

Since becoming Prime Minister last June Mrs May has tried to champion gay and transgender rights.

Last weekend, the government announced proposals to make it easier for people to change their gender by knocking away 'demeaning' rules which force people to undergo medical checks.

But the Prime Minister has faced a storm of criticism over her pact at Westminster with the Democratic Unionist Party, which opposes gay marriage.

And she has come under fire for her voting against laws furthering the rights of the gay community during her time in Parliament.

She voted against gay adoption in 2002, and against the repeal of hated Section 28 - which banned councils from 'promoting' homosexuality - in 2000.

Mrs May has previously said distanced herself from this voting record, saying that she has 'changed my own mind' and would cast her vote differently now.

In 2013, Mrs May voted for gay marriage. 

Mrs May was joined by former UK prime ministers and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in writing comment pieces for the website t o mark the anniversary of the 1967 Act.

Mr Corbyn urged the Prime Minister to stand up to Donald Trump - who on Wednesday said he wants transgender people banned from serving in the US military - on LGBT issues. 

Mr Corbyn said: 'In America, the Trump presidency has incited hatred and discrimination against LGBT people. 

'Trump opposes gay marriage and his vice-president, Mike Pence, enacted a religious freedom bill which legalised discrimination against LGBT people.

'Other world leaders have been unequivocal with the US president but not Theresa May, who has failed to challenge this in the strongest terms.

'I am a great believer that through dialogue we can open minds, unite people, and change the world.' 

Jeremy Corbyn used his PinkNews editorial to urge the PM to stand up to Donald Trump, who he said has incited hatred and discrimination towards LGBT people. While David Cameron said one of his proudest achievements as PM was legalising same sex marriage 

Her predecessor David Cameron said one of his 'proudest achievements' in office was the Same Sex Marriage Act which legalised gay weddings in England and Wales.

He said: 'Marriage is a great institution and I have long believed that it should be there for everybody; it now is and Britain led the way.'

Tony Blair said: 'We have come a long way over the last 50 years and it's right to celebrate, but while there are still challenges, such as pupils subject to homophobic and transphobic bullying or LGBT people having to think twice about even holding their partner's hand walking down the street, th ere is still further to go.'

Sir John Major warned that 'bigotry' still existed in society but 'most people today - and especially the young - have moved on from the social prejudices of earlier generations'.