Tories 'wrong' On Gay Rights In Past, Theresa May Says

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40736738

Well, I suppose an apology is better late than never, but I would like Mrs May to explain why she voted the way she did, so recently ?

"As an MP in 1998, Mrs May voted against reducing the age of consent for homosexual acts from 18 to 16 and four years later opposed allowing gay couples to adopt"

So I am unsure what she has to feel "proud" about ?

[Old_Geezer]

I suspect it was a honest attempt to protect the young from abuse and give them as much time as possible to get over what is, for some, a confusing period of life working out their sexual preferences.

[anotheoldgit]

Proud that she has moved with the times, unlike Labour who are still living in the past.

[ummmm]

She's religious.

[mikey4444]

AOG...how does that remark tie in with this thread ?

Its Mrs May making the "apology" not Labour. I would still like to see why she voted against things so recently, and which now she agrees with.

[Ellipsis]

Seems clear to me ...

"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."

In recent years refers to: "in 2004 backed civil partnerships, and as a member of the coalition government supported a succession of measures including same sex-marriages."

[sp1814]

O_G

You wrote:

I suspect it was a honest attempt to protect the young from abuse and give them as much time as possible to get over what is, for some, a confusing period of life working out their sexual preferences.

As it was perfectly legal for young straight girls and boys to have sex at 16, were they not in danger of abuse?

Or was it just gay teens who were in danger of predatory males?

[hc4361]

Anal sex between men and women has been legal only since 1994 but only if both parties were 18.
I don't know when it was reduced to 16 but probably when it became legal for 16 year old homosexuals

[Kromovaracun]

S28 was a scummy law passed by scummy people. Glad they are disowning it.

She's right, the Tory party have a bad history on this issue and it's a good thing she has addressed it.

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

The answer is in your question, Mikey. She is saying she was wrong in her views, has changed her position on that, and is proud to do so. It takes leadership to admit where you were wrong, and show a lead on any issue, despite your past.

[Old_Geezer]

One could look at it like that sp, but in fairness one has less concern that someone is being encourage to indulge in the normal cross gender intimacy than than one is for being encourage to indulge in same gender intimacy. It was an act of compassion to give them a while longer to be sure. Society has now shifted it's position and thinks they should get on with it if they want to.

[mikey4444]

I would still like to know why she voted against reducing the age of consent for homosexual acts from 18 to 16 less than 20 years ago. I would also like to know why she voted against allowing gay couples to adopt.

[Prudie]

Mikey when you were a teenager in the 60s did you agree with gay rights, never call another kid queer at school, strongly dreamed of same sex marriage and same sex adoptive parents? i think not. People take time to change their views.

[237SJ]

That was 1998. Things were different then

[pixie374]

Was it just gays men who were supposed to wait until they were 18, or women as well?

[ummmm]

Agree with Prudie and 237...my views over the last 20 years have changed considerably.

[mikey4444]

Prudie...this is none of your business but I will answer your question anyway. I can honestly say that I have never castigated someone for being "queer"

But even if I had, are the actions of schoolboys to be compared to those of experienced politicians ?

[237SJ]

By 1998 I had already been working in a very gay influenced industry for 13 years. Even in those 13 years, thinking had changed enormously. Not to mention in the two decades since then. There is no point in pondering on the mindset of people from so long ago.

[Prudie]

I didn't write castigated I said call which is not the same thing. I'd be amazed if you grew up through those times and never heard or giggled at such name calling. Anyway the point is, I repeat, people take time to change. I think you are just having a usual pop at the Tories and this is today's topic.

[mikey4444]

Prudie....I rarely miss an opportunity to "have a pop at the Tories "

But on this occasion, I would still like to know what happened, to make May change her mind ?

[Davemano]

Totally agree Prudie - latching on to a piece of information just to have a dig.