GALHA Slams Hague’s Support for Homophobic Christians

The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has slammed Tory leader William Hague’s support for Evangelical Christians which he has demonstrated in a rapturously received speech at their 50,000-strong Spring Harvest gathering at Minehead, Somerset. One of the most popular themes of his speech was his strict stance against the repeal of Section 28. He also pledged the right to national and digital broadcasting licences for Christian broadcasters. “Our country is built on Judaeo-Christian foundations”, he said. “However, those foundations are under threat. I want to see those foundations renewed.”

Mr Hague was accompanied by aides from the ultra-homophobic Conservative Christian Fellowhip which has organised the Conservative Party’s 18-month “Listen to Britain’s Churches Campaign”. The CCF has accused Labour of “promoting gay rights for vulnerable sixteen-year-olds”, and one of the CCF’s website Monthly Prayerlines asks supporters to “pray for a turning away from the emphasis on sexual fulfilment and parliamentary moves to lower the age of consent for homosexuality”. It adds: “May legislators be reminded of Jesus’ blessing of marriage between man and woman as the only proper place for sexual relations.”

GALHA spokesperson George Broadhead said: “Mr Hague is courting the Evangelical Christian vote here in the UK just as George Bush is doing in the US. By aligning himself with Evangelical Christians, Hague is sending a clear message to the lesbian and gay community that they can expect no support from a future Conservative Government. By promising UK Evangelical Christians national broadcasting time, he is giving them free rein to spew their hateful bible-based homophobia on radio and television just as their US counterparts do now every day.”