Lib Dem leader Tim Farron: I don’t believe gay sex is a sin
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron says he doesn’t believe gay sex is sinful – after dodging questions on the issue dozens of times in the past week.
The pro-European party leader, who is expected to make gains in June’s General Election, has been under the microscope over his beliefs about homosexuality.
In an interview with Channel 4 last week, Mr Farron was asked with gay sex was sinful – and refused to answer the question, insisting he would not “spend my time talking theology”.
He has since dodged repeated questions on the issue in interviews with LBC and ITV’s Robert Peston, while he was also challenged on the issue in Parliament.
“I don’t believe gay sex is a sin” – @timfarron in BBC exclusive, answering question he’d avoided https://t.co/6pp2zEMalT #GE2017 pic.twitter.com/8H9exB4qvT
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) April 25, 2017
In an interview with the BBC today, Mr Farron finally answered the question, explaining that he doesn’t think gay sex is sinful.
Mr Farron said: “I don’t believe gay sex is a sin. I take the view that as a political leader, my job is not to pontificate on theological matters but this has become a talking point, an issue – and in that case, if people have got the wrong opinion of what I think of those issues, it’s right to correct it.
“Asked why his answer had changed, he said: “I’m quite careful about how I talk about my faith… I don’t bang on about it, but I don’t make a secret of it either.
“When I get asked theological questions, which I don’t think many other politicians do get asked, I took the view that it would be better for me to say this is a matter of theological nitpicking, and let’s talk about the politics.”
He added: “It’s really important I answer it clearly today, and say, it’s not [a sin]. I don’t feel it is.”
Asked about his previous evasiveness, he said: “I didn’t want to get into a series of questions unpicking the Bible. What I want is to make sure we deal with something that’s become an issue.
“I think that’s something that’s important to say when they get the wrong idea of you.”
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Unlike former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who fiercely championed LGBT rights, Mr Farron rose to the position with a poor voting history on the issue – though he has become an outspoken and consistent supporter of equal rights since becoming party leader.
Earlier this month, Mr Farron was leading calls against the persecution of gay people in Chechnya, lobbying Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on the issue.
He told PinkNews: “These reports from Chechnya are truly horrifying, and represent an extreme manifestation of increasing homophobic brutality and intolerance in Putin’s Russia.
“The UK government must strongly condemn this disgusting violence, and use every possibly opportunity to raise this with the Russian government, as well as in the UN and other international bodies.”
Through his time in Parliament Mr Farron has lobbied on a number of other issues, championing transgender equality and criticising the blanket ban on blood donation by men who have sex with men.
He also personally intervened in Parliament to help secure the safety of a transgender woman who has been sent to a man’s prison.
Two out transgender women are expected to stand as Lib Dem candidates in June’s election.
Mr Farron previously spoke candidly about his mixed voting record on equality legislation in a PinkNews interview, saying that he “regrets anything that gives people the wrong impression”.
