Bristol Pride needs your help

A petition has been launched to protest about the selection of the Lord Mayor elect of Bristol following homophobic comments he made in 2010.

The nominee, Councillor Chris Windows made homophobic comments in 2010 after LGB equalities charity Stonewall visited a Bristol School with actor Sir Ian McKellen.

Mr Windows said in full chambers: “I am unhappy and a little disturbed at the involvement of Stonewall in local schools and particularly the use of a certain leading actor as a potential role model for our impressionable young people.”

He went on to say that: “I have nothing against people of a different sexual orientation than myself I just don’t think we should make a great big fuss of it. I don’t jump off wardrobes and expect to be represented, I think we should leave well alone, in the bedroom where it is supposed to be”

The Councillor was nominated by the Conservative Party to become Bristol Lord Mayor earlier this year and whilst both the Green Party and The Liberal Democrats have objected and refused to back the nomination, Labour with a deciding vote, have backed the proposal. Cllr Windows has no interests declared on the Bristol City Council register of interests except that he owns or rents properties in Bristol.

Attempts to contact the Councillor and leader of the local Conservative Party have been met with silence causing Bristol Pride to back a petition to force a debate on the matter which is usually held behind closed doors with no public discussion.

Bristol Pride organiser Daryn Carter said: “We feel that Councillor Windows does not represent the views of Bristol and should not be made Lord Mayor. The Lord Mayor should work towards challenging all hate crime and champion and celebrate all communities in Bristol both at home and in their national and international duties. The previous two Lord Mayors have gone out of their way to celebrate, support and promote equality, one being openly gay and one being a practising Muslim have led the Bristol Pride march in the city and spoken openly of their support.

We feel that Chris Windows is not qualified to continue this work, it is clear from the comments that the councillor does not recognise the need for a Pride event and has shown no effort to reach out to the LGBT community in the wake of allegations and has not even bothered to reply to a formal letter from Bristol Pride raising concerns.”

The petition only went live yesterday afternoon (20/3/14) as it was referred to council lawyers following objections from the Councillor. It has already attracted nearly 600 signatures but needs 3500 to force a debate on the issue. Bristol City Council have also informed Bristol Pride that the petition will be taken down on April 12 for over a month due to local elections as the petition is deemed politically controversial.

The political representation on Bristol City Council is:

Labour: 27 seats
Liberal Democrat: 23 seats
Conservative: 14 seats
Green: 4 seats
Independent: 2 seats