Christian News from Scotland

News stories from Scotland and beyond

Monday, September 29, 2008

Gay Labour

As we have watched the progress of successive Labour governments, so we have witnessed the increasing pressure on British people to embrace the Gay Lifestyle - or is it the Gay Religion?

Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman is reported to have said that the Government has “sleeper” ministers in various departments monitoring gay rights. While another Government Minister, Angela Eagle, promised that “deeper rights” for homosexuals would be included in the Equality Bill, which is expected to place new requirements on public bodies to promote equality.

Miss Eagle, displaying a lack of respect for the process of law, also said that the decision of an employment tribunal to uphold Lillian Ladele’s right to be exempt from performing civil partnerships “does not seem to be equal access to me”.

The two ministers were speaking at a fringe meeting of the Labour Party conference, organised by LGBT Labour (a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Labour supporters).

Miss Harman also said that the upcoming Equality Bill could present problems for faith schools, but insisted that “cultural views” must not be allowed to cut across “absolute rights”.

The Christian Institute has raised concerns about how the Bill may impact religious liberty.

When challenged from the floor, Miss Harman failed to give a defence for the appointment of Joel Edwards, the outgoing head of the Evangelical Alliance (EA), to the board of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. The appointment has been criticised because of EA’s activities in campaigning for Christian freedoms to be protected from the impact of recent gay rights legislation.

It was left to a Government spokeswoman to later defended Mr Edwards’ appointment to the Commission.