As part of a concerted move to woo the ‘pink vote’, Prime Minister David Cameron has hosted a ‘Gay Pride’ festival reception at Number 10 ahead of Pride Fortnight which starts on 18 June 2010.
Mr Cameron pledged his support for homosexual ‘rights’ before jokingly referring to his deputy, Nick Clegg, as ‘my own civil partner’. He welcomed homosexual celebrities and members of the Armed Forces who celebrated the event at Number 10 as the Prime Minister became the first Tory leader to advance homosexual causes.
It is reported that the event was designed to help boost the perception of the new Government as a champion of ‘equality’, after decades in which the Conservatives have been accused of ‘homophobic prejudice’.
Mr Cameron told guests that he backed ‘equal rights and equal treatment’, adding:
‘I’m standing here as leader of the Conservative Party that has not always got that right.’
The event was held as the Government unveiled a Transgender Action Plan to crack down on discrimination against homosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals. Theresa May, the Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equality, announced on 16 June 2010 the start of a cross-government programme to tackle ‘prejudice’ against homosexuals saying that she is ‘proud of the fact that Britain is a world leader for LGBT equality’.
(See the Government report)
Mr Cameron also promised the homosexual lobby that the coalition government would change the law to allow religious buildings to host civil partnership ceremonies, a provision introduced in the last parliament by the openly homosexual Lord Alli.
In April 2010, the Conservative Party suspended Philip Lardner, the party’s prospective parliamentary candidate for North Ayrshire, for ‘deeply offensive and unacceptable’ comments about homosexuality after Mr Lardner wrote on his website that he believed that ‘homosexuality was not ‘normal behaviour’.’
'I will always support the rights of homosexuals to be treated within concepts of (common sense) equality and respect, and defend their rights to choose to live the way they want in private, but I will not accept that their behaviour is 'normal' or encourage children to indulge in it,' Mr Lardner wrote.
Mr Cameron stated that he had taken decisive action to axe Mr Lardner ‘within minutes’.