Labour MEP-led organisation calls for Kelly resignation
The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association, (GALHA) whose Vice President is the former EastEnders star turned Labour MEP Michael Cashman, has called on the Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly to resign.
Ms Kelly, who is a devout Catholic and a member of Opus Dei, has yet to clarify if she will allow the Catholic Church to opt out of adoption of children by gay couples.
The Catholic Church has threatened to shut down its adoption services if it is forced to allow gay couples to adopt.
Ms Kelly is the Cabinet minister with responsibility for equality and gay rights, despite having never voted in favour of gay rights.
Reacting, George Broadhead issued a statement on behalf of GALHA, “Ms Kelly is clearly the wrong person for this job.
“We warned at the time of her appointment that there would eventually be a conflict of interest between the rights of those she is supposed to be defending and the demands of her religion.”
He added: “She has to choose. It is obvious that she cannot adequately represent the interests of the LGBT community while she is also trying to serve an organisation that is telling her to discriminate against us.
“The Catholic Church has shown itself to be increasingly hostile to the progress of LGBT rights and she is clearly struggling between her loyalty to the job and her loyalty to the Church.
“She has now made it abundantly clear where her prime interest lies. There should be no no more excuses – she must go.”
Chris Bryant, the gay Labour MP who last year called on Tony Blair to resign, told Channel 4 News tonight that he expected the majority of the Government and Cabinet to refuse the Catholic Church an exemption.
