UKIP LGBT group: ‘Extremely angry and disappointed’ by the ‘obnoxious beliefs’ of David Nixon and John Sullivan
UKIP’s affiliated LGBT group has condemned two of the party’s local election candidates for their alleged public displays of homophobia and biphobia.
The leaflet, which was sent to PinkNews by a reader, mocked bisexuals and blasted the government’s same-sex marriage bill, warning it would lead to explicit “Homosexual Sex Education”.
Revelations then surfaced regarding UKIP Gloucestershire County Council candidate John Sullivan, who has been accused of writing on Facebook that regular physical exercise in schools can “prevent homosexuality” and congratulated Russia for banning gay pride events by saying: “Well done Russia”.
The comments have now been removed.
Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats’ LGBT groups criticised UKIP over the revelations.
In a statement, LGBTQ in UKIP said on Facebook:
The LGBTQ in UKIP committee is extremely angry and disappointed by the comments made by a small number of UKIP local candidates, particularly David Nixon and John Sullivan.
These candidates, who haven’t been vetted and produce their own campaign literature, have let down the hundreds of outstanding UKIP candidates who in no way indorse the comments made, and the Party in general.
Whilst we believe in freedom of speech, this does not mean UKIP should therefore accommodate people with obnoxious beliefs such as suggesting LGBTQ people are inferior or abnormal.
We are informed by the Party that they are thoroughly investigating each of the cases raised by the media. It is unlikely these investigations will be concluded before Thursday.
It is our belief that these candidates should have the UKIP whip drawn from them, and that future candidates are properly vetted and literature officially approved before being published.
The candidates named above shall be receiving direct correspondence from us in the near future.
