Ann Widdecombe blasted after saying ‘science may produce an answer’ to being gay
The newly-elected Brexit Party MEP's hateful bile continues.
By Will Stroude
Just days after finding herself back on the frontline of British politics, Ann Widdecombe’s hateful views have – surprise surprise – once again been given a public platform.
The former Conversvative MP and Shadow Home Secretary, who was elected as Brexit Party MEP for the South West earlier this month, has been roundly slammed after suggesting that science might one day “produce and answer” to being gay.
During an interview on Sky News on Sunday (2 June), Widdecombe, 71, was challenged over her previous support of gay ‘cure’ therapy – the abusive practise rejected by all mainstream medical bodies in the UK which suggests a person’s sexuality can be changed.
Asked whether others would want to share a platform with her because of her views, Widdecome replied: “And I also pointed out that there was a time that we thought it was quite impossible for men to become women and vice-versa.
.@brexitparty_uk MEP, Ann Widdecombe, controversially tells #Ridge that science might one day “produce an answer” to people being gay.
More on this story here: https://t.co/dMeQywQxbR pic.twitter.com/SLN6uaaOGY
— Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) June 2, 2019
“The fact that we now think it is quite impossible for people to switch sexuality doesn’t mean that science may not yet produce an answer at some stage.”
Pressed over whether she thought the idea of changing someone’s sexuality was possible, she continued: “I don’t know any more than people once knew whether it was possible for men to become women. “I don’t know, and I’ve never claimed – and this is where I’m misrepresented quite often – I’ve never claimed that such science exists.
“I’ve merely claimed that if you rule out the possibility of it, you’re denying people who are confused about their sexuality or discontented with it the chances that you do give to people to want to change gender.”
Widdecombe’s quickly sparked outrage on social media, with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan accusing her of “peddling homophobic nonsense”.
“She may have changed her party, but she hasn’t changed her stripes,” he added.
Meanwhile, presenter Gok Wan responded: “What the actual… cures are only needed to relieve a disease or condition…”
Writer and Labour Party activist Owen Jones wrote: “Ann Widdecombe suggesting “science may produce an answer” to being gay shows why the Brexit Party is such a threat: they are going to reopen debates about the rights of minorities which were supposedly settled long ago. We must fight them.”
And Stephen Fry voiced the question on everybody’s lips when he added: “Will science ever find an answer to Anne Widdecombe?”