Ruth Kelly and the LGBT Community

Ruth Kelly is the Government's senior minister who has responsibility for equality and for developing legislation to protect the rights of LGBT people.

Although Ms Kelly has not actually said homosexuality is a sin, she's a member of a conservative Catholic group who have strong convictions that homosexuality is wrong and sinful. A debate has grown as to whether she is able to work for our interests when she holds such religious beliefs.

There are similarities with the proposed appointment of Dr Rocco Buttiglione in 2004 as EU Commissioner for 'freedom, security and justice'. An extreme conservative catholic, Dr Buttiglione had gone on record as saying homosexuality is a sin and has opposed gay pride parades and civil partnerships in Italy.

How can a person who holds such views be expected to impartially take forward equalities legislation for a group whom they believe to be sinful or morally second rate? Thankfully, international pressure, including from Green MEPs, forced the EU to withdraw his nomination.

The situation is the same with Ms Kelly. Some people who should know better such as Michael Cashman the gay Labour MEP have moved quickly to Ms Kelly's defence, saying that she'll honour Labour's equality pledges and her personal views will not affect them. Time will tell - but this seems to me a cynical view of politics. Surely a minister should believe in what they are doing and passionately want the policies to succeed?
Ruth Kelly said of herself on her appointment: "Personally I don't think you can find someone more committed to...sexual orientation...issues."

That has to be one the most inconsistent statements I've heard a politician make. Quite apart from her traditional faith views, Ms Kelly has failed to vote on virtually every major piece of pro-gay equality legislation since she was elected to Parliament including Civil Partnerships, same sex partner adoption and the repeal of the hated Tory Section 28. . How can she claim to be committed to sexual equality with such a track record?

Of course she might have turned over a new 'equalities leaf', but I can't help drawing the mischievous conclusion from her statement that the rest of the Government care even less about us than she does.

As human rights activist Peter Tatchell said: "Her appointment suggests the Government does not take lesbian and gay rights seriously. Tony Blair would never appoint someone to a race equality post who had a lukewarm record of opposing racism."

Obviously the jury's still out; let's hope Ms Kelly, finds her own 'Road to Damascus' and becomes a covert to LGBT equality. Yet wouldn't it be so much better if Tony Blair had appointed a genuine friend to lead us to full equality?