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British 'Anti-Gay' MP Dumps Wife For Boyfriend
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
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(London) A leading Conservative Member of Parliament who voted against almost every LGBT bill that came before the House of Commons has been outed in by media.
The Sun newspaper reports that Greg Barker split from his wife of 14 years in July and became sexually involved with a man hired to decorate the couple's home.
The paper says that the boyfriend, who it did not name, had accompanied Barker on official trips including a fact-finding mission on global warming to the Arctic Circle.
Barker refused to answer questions about the relationship with the interior designer saying that “it is a private matter.”
Barker is a close ally of Conservative Party leader David Cameron.
Party officials also refused to discuss the affair.
As an MP Barker opposed legislation in 2002 designed to allow unmarried couples, both straight and gay, to become adoptive parents. He also supported maintaining Section 28 - a law designed to silence any discussion of homosexuality in schools.
But his opposition to LGBT measures changed in 2004 when he voted for the Civil Partnership Bill.
Nevertheless a Web site that evaluates MPs' voting records, has given Barker a gay rights score of just 30.2 per cent and a 60.1 per cent anti-gay score.
LGBT rights activist Peter Tatchell called for Barker to publicly come out.
"He previously voted against gay equality and always projected himself as a family man. This seems a bit hypocritical if he was secretly gay all along.
"Recently he has voted in favor of gay rights and I guess we should be grateful that he has had a change of heart. Let's hope that it's sincere and lasting.
"Since he no longer appears to be hypocritical I can't see any public interest justification for further probing into his private life."
©365Gay.com 2006
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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