Katie Hopkins to politicians: ‘Are you more Dolce and Gabbana or more Elton John?’
Katie Hopkins has asked a panel of politicians to weigh in on their position on gay parenting, and on the recent boycott of Dolce and Gabbana.
The PinkNews Debate, chaired by Evan Davis, took place at the Wellcome Collection in London on Thursday 19 March.
The panel included Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Tory peer and Leader of the House of Lords Baroness Stowell of Beeston, Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett, Lib Dem Chief Whip Don Foster and UKIP’s Culture spokesman Peter Whittle.
Appearing on a video at the debate on Thursday evening, Hopkins asked the panel whether they think gay men should be allowed to be parents.
She said: “Do you approve of gay parenting. Are you more Elton John or more Dolce and Gabbana?”
Legendary fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana – who are gay themselves – whipped up a storm earlier this week when they lashed out at same-sex adoption, IVF and surrogacy.
Don Foster said what Dolce & Gabbana said was “an absolute disgrace”, and said he couldn’t boycott them because he couldn’t afford it, but that he would.
Yvette Cooper said it was right for Elton John to call for a boycott. She said: “Parenting isn’t about sexuality – it’s about whether you love your children.”
Baroness Tina Stowell: It is hugely offensive” what Dolce and Gabbana said – also said she supports the boycott of D&G.
“When gay people come out with that sort of comment it actually gives licence to bigots. The last thing we want is that people with really bigoted views think they can start to say something just because they’ve heard a gay person say it,” she said.
Natalie Bennett said she supports the boycott but joked “both for questions of cost and for questions of style”, she couldn’t claim to be actively boycotting the brand.
“Parents are trying to do the absolute best for their children. Sexuality is irrelevant to that – I think Tina is right to say that this type of statement is empowering bigots to say things that they mightn’t have said otherwise.”
The debate is generously supported by KPMG.
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