Joe Lycett responds to Labour MP who criticised LGBT+ education
Joe Lycett called out Labour MP Roger Godsiff
Comedian Joe Lycett has posted a response to Labour MP Roger Godsiff, after he criticised LGBT+ inclusive education.
The comic spoke out after Godsiff, the MP for Birmingham Hall Green, said that five year olds are too young to learn that some families have same-sex parents.
Speaking to the Birmingham Mail after a school in his constituency faced protests over LGBT+ education, Godsiff said: “I have concerns about the age appropriateness of children of four and five being introduced to these ideas.”
Joe Lycett, who is pansexual and lives in the Godsiff’s constituency, reached out to the MP in a letter.
Joe Lycett has a message for his local MP
He wrote: “Me again! I was the constituent who emailed back in 2013 asking for you to reconsider voting against gay marriage. You dismissed my email and voted against it anyway.
“And now here we are, 6 years later, and protests are happening outside a school in your constituency against children being taught about LGBT relationships.
“Not sex, just relationships – that relationships aren’t always between a man and a woman. You were seemingly silent on the matter before stating today that you are actually in favour of the protests.”
Lycett continued: “Despite you voting against it, gay marriage is now legal. I have since been to some really fun gay weddings and also some incredibly boring ones (no offence to Deb and Claire, but the speeches were unbearable). But they were all loving, joyous and normal.
“To me, the LGBT community in Birmingham is just that – loving, joyous and normal.”
Joe Lycett
“To me, the LGBT community in Birmingham is just that – loving, joyous and normal. I’d love you to see that. So I’m inviting you out for a night in the gay village.
“We can start at mine for pre-drinks, in my kitchen extension if you like (it was opened last week by The Lord Mayor!)
“Then we’ll go on to The Village, preferably on a night when my mate Ginny Lemon is performing; she does an astonishing tribute to Cilla Black. Then, if you’ve got the stamina we could go to The Nightingale for a dance, or head straight to a late dinner at King Kebab.”
Joe Lycett attends the premiere of Snow White at London Palladium on December 12, 2018 in London, England. (John Phillips/Getty)
He added: “Of course you might not have time for all that, you must be a busy man!
“So perhaps you could just take a little time to explain, as my MP, what you are doing to make LGBT people like me in your constituency feel like they aren’t being treated as second class citizens.”
Roger Godsiff has poor LGBT rights record
In the interview, Godsiff had said he is “supportive” of LGBT+ rights and added that parents “do not have a right to veto what is taught in schools on equality.”
He has a poor record on LGBT+ issues, however, voting against equal marriage in 2013.
At the time, Godsiff said he opposes “redefining the current definition of marriage.”
Godsiff’s comments also conflict with his party’s own policies, with neighbouring Labour MP Jess Phillips visiting the school on Monday and expressing strong support for LGBT+ inclusive education.
Godsiff been increasingly at odds with the party over other issues, with the pro-Brexit MP also rebelling against the Labour whip over the EU withdrawal bill.
