Tories Fail To Retain Clause 28

The Scottish Parliament was pretty swift in removing this nasty piece of legislation (heck, you’re not allowed to call a kid sissy here anymore) but it has lingered on down South, and the more repulsive Tories were keen to prevent whole swathes of under-18s turning fruity at the suggestion of their pinko-liberal educators. (That’s actually what they think, you know.)

Thankfully, attempts to retain the clause failed, thanks to the usual infighting between ‘modernisers’ and ‘traditionalists’ in the Tory camp, but not before a few rotted souls in the party, like Edward Leigh, MP, allowed us a glimpse of their benighted beliefs:

…whether you like it or not many people think that homosexual practice is wrong. That is what tolerance means. It means putting up with something you believe to be wrong.

I’m all for tolerance — I tolerate the likes of Leigh having influence over UK law, for example — but this kind of language is thinly veiled homophobia. It’s hard to take seriously, I know, given that Clause 28 rests on the belief that you can ‘promote’ homosexuality like a tasty snack, but when it comes down to it, this ugly mark on the statute books meant that a teacher would have to think twice before saying, ‘It’s just fine for you to be gay, and I will take action to prevent anyone telling you any different’ to some poor kid being bullied to the point of suicide by other kids raised on the unthinking hate and fear that lies behind, and was legitimised by, Clause 28.

Posted at 1pm on 12/03/03 by Jack Mottram to the politics category.
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