GettyIt’s probably worth reminding people that despite recent political upheavals it’s 2017 and not the 1940s. Yet we do apparently live in a world where the leader of a major political party can’t answer the rather simple question ‘Is being gay a sin?’
To all you secular readers out there the answer is unequivocally ‘no’ of course and I’m willing to bet, nay hoping, that those of you who profess to be religious have it in your hearts to accept that if god is all loving then surely he loves everyone including gay people.
After all the Pope himself has said that the LGBT community should be embraced by the Catholic Church but it seems that the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron missed the memo refusing to comment when asked whether homosexuality was a sin.
GettyAfter the announcement of a snap general election Mr Farron appeared on Ch4 news speaking to Cathy Newman where she asked the Lib Dem leader about his views on LGBT rights and gay people.
Ms Newman reminded Mr Farron last time he’d appeared on the programme he’d struggled to answer the question ‘Is homosexuality a sin?’ before asking if he, now he’d had the time, had thought of an answer, The Huffington Post reports.
Not exactly "liberal"?
He may be "tolerant"of #LGBT people, but this doesn't make me want 2 vote @LibDems @timfarronpic.twitter.com/X363I3w3hJ— Prossy (@Pkakooza) April 18, 2017
He answered:
I don’t think I struggled to answer it at all, Cathy. I think I’m not in the position to make theological announcements over the next six weeks.
I’m not going to spend my time talking theology or making pronouncements.
She went on to remind Farron about his previous comments on LGBT people where he said ‘we’re all sinners’ before committing himself to the values of liberalism including equality.
Tim Farron on C4 news failing to clarify his views on the gay community. 'We're all sinners'.
It's 2017.
— Sue Perkins (@sueperkins) April 18, 2017
He said:
As a Liberal, I’m passionate about equality, about equal marriage and about equal rights for LGBT people, for fighting for LGBT rights, not just in this country but overseas.
Just because I’m Christian, it would be a bit boring for everybody to spend the next weeks asking me to make theological announcements that I’m not going to make.
Unfortunately for Mr Farron the damage was done and a number of celebrities came out to condemn his actions including Sue Perking and David Baddiel who labelled Farron a homophobe.
Problem with people saying it's Tim Farron who's talking the most sense is: he's a fundamentalist Christian homophobe. #notsurehowwegothere
— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) April 18, 2017
Mr Farron has previously been criticised for abstaining from the reading of the same-sex marriage bill although he claims his abstention doesn’t mean he didn’t support it
He, along with nine other Lib Dem MPs, abstained at the third reading of the same-sex marriage bill, despite previously voting for the legislation and has previously voted against the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations which would have imposed restrictions on businesses from discriminating against based on their sexual orientation.
Sorry to condemn Mr Farron but if it quacks like a duck, looks like a duck and can’t answer a basic question about the LGBT community then it may not be a liberal duck in my opinion.
More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.