David Cameron to host gay reception at No10

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

Prime minister David Cameron is to host a reception at Downing Street for the gay community tomorrow evening.

The event will focus on tackling homophobia in sport and invitees will include gay and lesbian sports stars, campaigners and celebrities.

Sportsmen Gareth Thomas, Steven Davies and Ben Cohen are all expected to have been invited, along with community leaders and volunteers from across the country.

One prominent gay rights figure who won’t be there is Peter Tatchell. The activist has never received an invitation to Downing Street, despite being one of Britain’s best known gay rights campaigners.

Mr Tatchell said: “It is a bit odd but they must have their reasons. Maybe I’m too much of a troublemaker. I’m sure I would turn up and be on my best behaviour.”

A Downing Street source said: “There are lots of people who haven’t been invited.”

Organisers hoped that prominent footballers would be among the invitees. However, this is the traditional footballers’ ‘holiday season’ and many are not in the country.

Instead, some ‘older faces’ from the footballing world are expected to attend, along with chief executives from sports associations.

LGBT receptions in Downing Street began in 2009 when Gordon Brown was prime minister.

Mr Cameron has continued the tradition.

At last year’s reception, he promised the crowd the coalition government would change the law to allow religious buildings to host civil partnership ceremonies.

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