Are anti-gay campaigners accidentally helping Caroline Lucas get re-elected?

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Anti-gay marriage campaigners are distributing leaflets in Brighton – ‘warning’ people that Green MP Caroline Lucas supports equal marriage.

The ‘Coalition for Marriage’ – which unsuccessfully tried to block the passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act in 2013 – has taken to leafleting some marginal constituencies promoting the voting record of local MPs on the bill.

However, the group likely aren’t making much headway in Brighton Pavilion – the constituency thought to have one of the highest concentrations of LGBT voters in the country – where they are ‘warning’ voters that former Green leader Caroline Lucas voted for equal marriage.

Are anti-gay campaigners accidentally helping Caroline Lucas get re-elected?

Ms Lucas is proudly on the record supporting same-sex marriage and LGBT rights – and her party’s manifesto released this week pledged a number of radical measures, including pension equality for gay couples, mandatory sex and relationship eduction, and stronger legislation against hate crime.

Ms Lucas had a majority of just 1252 votes over Labour during the 2010 election – and is facing a tough battle to retain her seat next month.

C4M leaflets distributed in the constituency that state: “Your MP Caroline Lucas voted for same-sex marriage. Use your vote for a true marriage at the General Election on 7 May”.

One Twitter user joked: “Coalition for Marriage misunderstanding the voting population of #Brighton #WeKnow”

Another added: “Well the Coalition for Marriage certainly know how to waste their money, distributing these in Brighton Pavilion.”

A third quipped: “Nasty leaflet came thru door today. I think they might be campaigning in the wrong city.”

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The Green politician won a PinkNews Award for Member of the Year last year – and was praised for her work to secure inclusive sex and relationships education. 

The group has previously targeted Tory MP Simon Kirby in the nearby Brighton Kemptown – but every single other candidate in the seat also supports equal marriage.

C4M have also been promoting the votes of MPs who opposed equality – including Tory Matthew Offord.

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