Philip Lardner A Conservative candidate in the UK general election has been suspended for arguing homosexuality is “not normal” and a law banning councils from promoting gay equality was correct. Philip Lardner, candidate for North Ayrshire and Arran, claimed most people in Britain consider homosexuality to be "somewhere between unfortunate and simply wrong" and it should not be supported by the state. In a section on his website, he supported parents and teachers who do not want children to be taught about homosexuality and churches who do not want to employ gay people. The Daily Telegraph reports leader David Cameron moved quickly to suspend him. He insists the Conservative Party supports gay equality, adding: "I couldn't have acted quicker - decisive action in minutes of finding out about this." In the offending article, which has been removed from his website, Lardner said he supported homosexual rights to live the lives they want in private. "But I will not accept that their behaviour is 'normal' or encourage children to indulge in it." He also defended the now-repealed Section 28, which banned local authorities from portraying homosexuality in a positive light. Lardner said: "Toleration and understanding is one thing, but state-promotion of homosexuality is quite another. Christians (and most of the population) believe homosexuality to be somewhere between 'unfortunate' and simply 'wrong' and they should not be penalised for politely saying so - good manners count too, of course."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 29th April 2010 - 8:12am