Conservative Party Councillor Gets Suspended After Objecting Gay Talks in a School

Country: United Kingdom

Date of incident: November 25, 2010


A conservative party councillor in Bristol has been “voluntarily suspended” and asked by the party to meet with homosexualist activists after he objected to appearances by a homosexualist campaigner and actor, Sir Ian McKellen, at local schools.

Chris Windows, the representative for Henbury, told a public meeting of the Bristol City Council on Tuesday night that he objected to McKellen speaking to school children about being homosexual. He said: "I am unhappy and a little disturbed at the involvement of Stonewall in our local schools and particularly the use of a certain leading actor as a potential role model for our impressionable young people.” Sir Ian McKellen had visited the southwest city of Bristol last week to talk to pupils at City Academy in Lawrence Hill and Fairfield High School in Horfield about “homophobic bullying.” The renowned actor began his campaign promoting homosexuality in schools in 2008 with the approval of local councils, trading on the popularity of the Lord of the Rings films in which he played the revered character of Gandalf in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic epic. Windows made the comment during the council’s discussion of a plan for “community cohesion,” an increasingly hot-button topic in British politics. He denied that he was “homophobic,” saying that he was concerned that “confused” students at the schools would be identified as homosexual and bullied. Windows said: “I'm not homophobic, I never have been. I just don't like undue pressure put onto young people, particularly when it's a famous character. I do believe we should be able to express our views without receiving abuse.”  Simon Rayner, the Liberal Democrat representative for Kingsweston, taunted Windows, saying, “Can I translate what he just said? He doesn't think gay people should be allowed near children in schools.” Windows responded: “I did not say that and never would. He’s just trying to twist things. I've nothing against people with a different sexual orientation to myself. I just don't think we should make a fuss out of it. We should leave things where they belong, in the bedroom.” A Conservative Party statement after Windows’ remarks became public said: “In light of the controversy surrounding the remarks made by Councillor Chris Windows, from Bristol city council, he has agreed to voluntarily suspend himself from all his council responsibilities for an appropriate period. He has asked the Conservative group to decide upon the length of his voluntary suspension.”  We thank the LifeSiteNews and Hilary White for reporting. Read the full story here: http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2010/nov/10111912

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Councillor-s-homophobic-views-slated/article-2904113-detail/article.html