Nick Clegg: Leaving the EU would damage tolerance and understanding for LGBT people
PinkNews Exclusive
Nick Clegg has warned that the LGBT community would be much better of if the UK remains inside the European Union ahead of a referendum on Thursday to leave or remain.
The British public will take to the polls on Thursday 23 June to cast a vote to either leave or remain in the EU.
The former Liberal Democrat leader caught up with PinkNews at a Pride in London dinner at which he was speaking.
On why LGBT voters might vote to remain, he told PinkNews: “For the values of internationalism, of togetherness, of doing things together with our nearest neighbours in Europe. And against the politics of isolation, of division, of inwardness, which I think is represented by and would ensue from a vote to leave the European Union.
“The European Union is deeply imperfect but actually in many ways in embodies a really important principle, which is that we generally in life, and certainly in very insecure times, are safer and stronger and more compassionate, one towards the other, by doing things together rather than pulling apart.
He added that LGBT voters would be better off if the UK remains in the EU, telling PinkNews: “I think the whole climate of tolerance and of reaching out and understanding one another would be damaged by a lurch towards isolation. Just imagine what would happen… the United Kingdom would almost certainly fall apart… ”
Ahead of tomorrow’s referendum on EU membership, four Members of Parliament told PinkNews about the potential impact on LGBT people.
Tomorrow, the UK faces one of the most important choices in a generation, as the public decides whether to Leave the EU or Remain.
There are strong and complex views from LGBT people on both sides of the referendum, on issues from human rights to immigration, anti-discrimination protections to national identity.
Ahead of the upcoming EU referendum, PinkNews asked the men of Grindr and Scruff which way they will be voting to hilarious results.
Last week, Sir Ian McKellen reaffirmed his support for the UK staying in the EU – claiming it makes “no sense” for gay people to back Brexit.
His comments came after Crispin Blunt, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, wrote for PinkNews accusing the ‘In’ campaign of scaremongering on LGBT rights
