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A Conservative shadow minister is urging the US Republican Party to bring lesbian and gay rights onto the agenda.

Nick Herbert, Shadow Minister for the Environment and himself an out gay man, argued the case for lesbian and gay equality in right-wing politics at yesterday’s discussion of conservatism and homosexuality at the Cato Institute in Washington, DC. The debate also featured Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage, which campaigns to prevent legal recognition of same-sex marriage and staunchly supports Proposition 8.

The frontbencher answered the debate’s subject ‘Is There a Place for Gay People in Conservatism and Conservative Politics?’ with a resounding ‘yes’. He said he believed equality for lesbian and gay people is “an essential element of modern conservatism,” and argued that homophobic stances adopted by conservative politicians close the door to a significant number of voters who otherwise share similar views.

He also voiced support for President Obama’s moves to allow openly lesbian or gay military personnel to serve, stating: “To bar people from making the most profound commitment to their nation, or to ask them to live their lives dishonestly by not telling, is something no conservative should support.”

Earlier in the day Herbert was interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, during which he admitted his party had been hostile to lesbian and gay equality in the past but said that now there had been “definite change.” He added that party leader David Cameron “is in no way judgemental about gay people.”

Posted in: Campaigns & Politics |