UK

 Tories Listen to Views and Concerns at 'Gay Summit'

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It was billed as a “Gay Summit”.  But the Conservative party preferred their own title:  “Supporting young gay men and lesbians”.  At the end of the day, it was the first time that Tories brought together gays and lesbians – and the politicians listened.

Yes, the party listened.  Since Michael Howard became leader last autumn, Conservatives have been listening quietly.  But today’s “summit” was a more public occasion, when over 100 youth workers and young people from LGBT youth groups from across Britain came together to discuss key issues facing young gay men, lesbians and bisexuals.

:“I am delighted by the very constructive and positive nature of today’s event,” commented Charles Hendry, the Shadow Minister for Young People and Deputy Chairman of the Party, after the event.

“By dealing with very serious issues affecting young gay people, such as bullying, safety and health, we have shown that this was not a superficial event, but one intended to make sure that we can develop policies based on people’s genuine experiences.

“I recognise that many of those who came were sceptical about the initiative, but I have been very encouraged by the feedback from those attending. It was a serious and productive meeting and gave many of those attending the opportunity, for the first time, to tell policy makers at Westminster about the issues that concern them most.”

In his opening address to the summit, Tim Yeo, the Shadow Secretary of State for Public Services, said: “We want to be a party that represents all sections of our society and help people to achieve their own aspirations.  We believe in the individual, we believe in allowing people to live their lives as they choose and we believe that it is not for the state to interfere in people’s lives.”

“[Gay men and lesbians] will not be jumping into bed with the Conservatives because of today – but they will start listening to what the Conservatives have to say,” commented Ben Summerskill, the chief executive of Stonewall, who attended the “summit”.

He did, however, welcome the initiative and welcomed the fact that the Conservative party was willing to have a dialogue with gay people.

"If they are trying to attune to Britain as it really is in the 21st century rather than the way it might have been in the 19th century and the way some people might wish it still was, then good luck to them," Summerskill told BBC Radio.

Brian Paddick, deputy assistant Commission of the Metropolitan Police – and the highest-ranking openly gay policeman in UK – said after the meeting that the Tories had admitted that their record on gay issues had not been good.

“It just remains to be seen whether there has been a genuine change of heart or not,” he told reporters.

In the back of minds of gays and lesbians in Britain is that it was the Tories who brought into law the hated – and now repealed – "Section 28".  And it was Howard who, as Home Secretary, was responsible.  Additionally, the Tory-controlled Kent County Council has it's own version of "Section 28" operating in schools and refused to step in line with the rest of the country.

Generally, gays and lesbians consider the party is abdicating its responsibility by not exerting pressure on Tory county councillors in Kent.