Next Gen News

Allowing civil partnerships in places of worship, and a few other measures, can't make up for a dubious record on gay rights

Any liberal-minded Briton would rejoice at the news of the coalition's plans to further gay equality, laid out yesterday. They reek of inclusion, concern and warmth. They speak of a Tory party (for we knew the Liberals always cared, despite the astonishing inability of their MPs to come out) now so pink-tinged, their new colour should be mauve. But peer more closely and behold the perilous gaps and mystifying inconsistencies at the heart of Cameron's party.

Theresa May, in her role as tormented as equality Minister announced a policy of

Result! All the fighters for the rights of gays to return home! Job done! Right?

Last night, a triumphant Cameron passed on news of these measures. He stood in the garden at Downing Street reception decision for prominent members of the LGBT community.

"I am pleased to announce today that … if religious organisations, if churches, if mosques, if temples want to have civil partnerships celebrated at religious places of worship, that should be able to happen."

He added: "Of course those organisations that don't want that to happen have their rights too."

Here, the prime minister, with a clumsy flash, exposed one ventricle of that conflicted heart: gay vs religious rights. It's very easy when someone gives you a present to unwrap it, and, whatever's inside, beam with happiness and hastily express gratitude. But this is not a present. It is a decoy.

There are two glaring inequalities in the plans for religious civil partnerships.

One: any religious group, or individual place of worship will be able to opt out. In reality, this will mean that only a tiny smattering of inclusive churches, Liberal synagogues and Quaker meeting houses, for example, will actually offer civil partnerships on the premises. The vast majority will deny access. But of course that is their "right" â€" the right to hate. Gay people, however, are denied the right to love in the way straight people are.

Two: we still can't get married. Despite Cameron's promise before the election to "consider" marriage for same sex relationships, he has now abandoned the idea. Imagine if one of those groups he alluded to â€" Jews, for instance, or Muslims, weren't allowed to get married, but were given something similar, but not quite the same. We are being told that we're being given equality, but it's merely second-class citizenship, beautifully wrapped.

Cameron's present is starting to look more and more like one Eeyore received: a popped balloon. And that's before you consider the other holes in the plans. There is no mention of the ban on gay men donating blood. (An illuminating fact to expose the illogic of this ban: homosexuals can't donate blood, but, as I discovered when the Anthony Nolan Trust contacted me recently after putting myself on their register, apparently we can give bone marrow.)

There is also no mention of how exactly they are going to stop gay asylum seekers being deported. If the coalition had read Stonewall's searing report (pdf) on the British asylum system's treatment of lesbians and gay men, which accuses the Home Office and the UK Border Agency (UKBA) of "institutional homophobia" and "systemic ignorance" of gay asylum issues, they would know that in order to do this a huge overhaul needs to take place. Judges need to be educated. UKBA staff need extra specialised training. Home Office country of origin reports need to be amended and updated. Plus a whole slew of timely, costly measures â€" just as is necessary to combat homophobic bullying. Is May really going to do all that as Osbourne's guillotine falls?

This may sound like all I 'm quibbling over details that I' m waiting for too much, that I should be grateful, humbled. Surprised, perhaps. But the decline is, the shameful history of the Tory 'homophobia, and, oh, gay rights are human rights, no additional special rights does not excuse my secretive glee.

As Cameron and May stand in the pulpit delivering gay people from evil, Boris Johnson lurks in the pews scrapping the mayoral reception at gay pride next month and Ian Duncan Smith appoints as his special adviser Philippa Stroud, the woman who was accused of exorcising demons from gay people in her church â€" accusations she has denied.

I'll rejoice only when all homophobia has been exorcised from the Conservative party and when real, rich equality is delivered.