Here’s a tip – don’t vote UKIP
UKIP, the notorious political party led by Nigel Farage, has been causing quite a stir recently, predominantly within the LGBT community. Their official position on same-sex marriage remains mildly unclear, as Farage has tactically avoided voicing his personal opinion on the subject out of fear of losing voters support.
However, he has asked several members to leave the party for voicing their agreement with same-sex marriage, and is open about his tolerance for homophobia, stating that Christian-driven discrimination is understandable. Therefore, it is incredibly difficult to believe that, if voted in, UKIP would lend any support whatsoever to the LGBT community. Though Farage may remain a closeted homophobe, members of his party seem all too open about sharing their views.
David Silvester, who, at the time, was a UKIP Councillor, publically stated his theory on the correlation between bad weather and homosexuality. He believes that the storms and flooding that occurred in January this year were caused directly by David Cameron’s decision to legalise equal marriage, as this angered the ‘Almighty God’, who sought punishment on the UK.
Although a UKIP spokeswoman stated that Silvester’s views were not necessarily the views of the party, and Farage has publically announced that he does not welcome extremists, he still welcomes money from Demetri Marchessini, one of UKIP’s largest donors. Not only has Marchessini stated that there is no such word as ‘homophobia’, he also believes that there is ‘no love, only lust’ in same-sex relationships. In a recent interview, he claims that we venture out at night, and ‘pick up’ ten to fifteen partners, as ‘there is no fidelity in homosexual relationships’. He also believes that women should be banned, by law, from wearing trousers, as they do not excite men. Again, these views are not confirmed to be the exact opinion of UKIP, however, they offer us an important insight into the kind of demographic that support the party.
Sexism is something that UKIP is familiar with as well, as Stuart Agnew, UKIP MEP for the East of England has shone some light on. Agnew believes that it is our own fault if we, as women, are not successful in the workforce, as we give up on our ambitions to go and have children.
Even more sickening, UKIP’s Branch Chair and senior UKIP member, Dr Julia Gasper, made several comments recently denoting to the acclaimed link between homosexuality and paedophilia, as well as suggesting that homosexuals often prefer sex with animals. Fellow UKIP member Jan Zolyniak, as well as countless others, supports her homophobic views.
If successful in the European elections, UKIP wish to remove the UK from the European Union, as well as withdrawing us from the European Court of Human Rights, whose importance in undeniable. If an individual feels that their rights have been violated, they can take their country to the European Court and fight for justice. Examples of its past decisions include the ban on slavery, and the human right to not be tortured, which are both articles of the European Convention on Human Rights. Protection through both the Convention and the Court, are of extreme importance for LGBT people to be protected from discrimination.
For those of you who believe the UK should leave the European Union, but do not wish to condone UKIP’s intolerant and homophobic views, I urge you to consider an alternative party.
To protect women of all creeds, colours, occupations and orientations, please don’t vote UKIP.