Homophobe elected to lead Conservatives in European Parliament
A homophobe has been elected unopposed to the leadership of the UK Conservative Party’s grouping in the European Parliament.
The Conservative Party’s 20 MEPs sit in the European Conservatives and Reformists grouping in the European Parliament, which was set up by former Prime Minister David Cameron.
The party has repeatedly come under scrutiny over its uncomfortable alliance with fringe parties from across Europe, most notably Poland’s right-wing Law and Justice party.
This week a Polish MEP who has made shocking homophobic comments was elected as ECR Group Co-Chairman.
Ryszard Legutko, a member of Law and Justice, was elected to lead the grouping alongside UK Tory Syed Kamall.
As Political Scrapbook notes, Legutko has described LGBT rights as “a tyranny of the minority which has taken over the main institutions and main ideologies in the western world”.
Speaking about same-sex marriage in 2014, he said: “What we have witnessed in Europe is a radical revolution. Over the last 10 years, this is, I believe, an unnecessary and extremely destructive experiment which we’ll be regretting very soon. I represent common sense.”
Legutko also insists that the rise in anti-LGBT hate crime is a “totally fictitious problem”, claiming homophobia odes not exist.
He said: “Homophobia is a stick with which you beat people who dare to raise any kind of objection. It may mean anything. Anything can be considered homophobic.
“This is a totally fictitious problem, it doesn’t exist anywhere. Homosexuals are the sacred cows.
“Christians are the group that have been discriminated against, not the homosexuals. They are the most protected group you can have.
Branding gay marriage “the dictatorship of the majority”, he claimed: “Homosexual groups have been very active and hijacked the mainstream. I believe a majority of people generally believe this is a stupid experiment.”
Meanwhile, he claimed of LGBT Pride: “The demonstrations are aggressive, anti-Christian and shocking.
“I don’t understand why anyone should want to be proud of being a homosexual. Be proud of what you do, but not of being a homosexual.”
Legutko was elected unopposed as the ECR’s Co-Chair.
He said: “I see this decision as a sign of trust as well as appreciation for the work performed by our delegation since the foundation of our group in 2009.
“I hope that the ECR Group will maintain its strong position in the European Parliament and will become the main eurorealist force in the European Parliament in the next term.”
British MEP Syed Kamall said: “I congratulate Professor Legutko on his election as Co-Chairman of the ECR Group.
“I look forward to working with Professor Legutko and other ECR Group members over the next 21 months in order to continue the ECR’s important work in helping to reform the European Union, and ensuring a smooth transition in the run up to the UK’s departure from the EU.”
