Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Politician Slammed For Saying Gay People Shouldn't Be Allowed On TV Before 9PM

Politician Slammed For Saying Gay People Shouldn't Be Allowed On TV Before 9PM
Good Morning Britain/ITV

Before you think the United States is the only Western democracy having growing pains regarding LGBTQ equality, the United Kingdom steps up to dispel that belief.

No, we're not talking about newly appointed Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

This time.


Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) member Jim Wells appeared on the ITV morning talk show Good Morning Britain alongside hosts Piers Morgan, Susanna Reid and guest Robin Windsor of the BBC program Strictly Come Dancing (SCD). Also featuring judges Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli, SCD is the precursor to the international Dancing With the Stars programs on networks worldwide.

The BBC original recently announced SCD was open to same sex pairings in the future. Previously having nixed the idea citing keeping the celebrity dancing competition show family friendly, the BBC announced:

"We are completely open to the prospect of including same-sex pairings between our celebrities and professional dancers in the future, should the opportunity arise."

SCD had already used same sex pairings in dance numbers featuring just the professionals.

But former Minister of Health Wells voiced objections to people of the same sex dancing together on a TV show.

Opening with the usual "think of the children line," Wells added:

"You've had a busy week, you sit down with the family and you watch pure entertainment. The last thing you want is to be challenged or to be asked deep intellectual questions."

When pressed on what time Wells thought gay people should appear on TV, Wells referenced the BBC's prior stance on same sex couples on SCD with:

"Exactly the same time as the BBC thought two years ago, 9pm."

However the Good Morning Britain hosts were not going to let Wells comment drop.

Watch the exchange here.

After questioning Wells own dancing habits, Morgan stated:

"When you danced and men came on the dancefloor, how did you feel? At what point did you feel like a man entering your orbit became a problem for you?"

Co-host Reid added:

"Have you ever seen children dancing?"
"They dance together, girls dance together, boys dance together, there's nothing challenging about it."
"Your concern is only about seeing gay couples—it's not about children [being confused]."

Finally, Morgan told Wells:

"I think you're just an old bigoted dinosaur, and you feel challenged because you don't like the idea of scary gay people around you."

When Wells took offense, Morgan added:

"I'm not insulting you, I'm insulting your bigotry, which is irrational, inconsistent, makes no sense whatsoever, your favorite shows have loads of gay presenters on, there's a gay judge on Strictly [Come Dancing], you think that's fine but you won't have two people—who may not even be gay—dancing together."

Morgan himself is often the recipient of criticism over his comments on women, the Obamas and support of President Trump. However this time the internet had kudos for both Good Morning Britain hosts handling of the situation.


@_slimmer_/Twitter

Criticism of the DUP was in no small supply.






Some felt Wells should only be broadcast after the watershed (9pm).




While UK professional rugby footballer Keegan Hirst made a point Wells missed.

When asked by a fan if he'd consider appearing on SCD, the openly gay Hirst replied he wouldn't rule it out.

This is not Wells first time in the spotlight for negative reasons. His views on abortion, gay rights and Pride parades as well as his advocacy and belief in and promotion of Young Earth Creationism all came under fire before.

While serving as Northern Ireland's Health Minister, Wells opposed lifting a ban on blood donations by gay men. Despite the rest of the UK lifting the ban, Wells spent £39,000 (over $47,000) of the health department's funds to fight the ban ending.

Wells also stated:

"The gay lobby is insatiable, they don't know when enough is enough."

Wells was Health Minister for a little less than eight months before being forced to resign after claiming non-existent evidence from around the world showed children in gay households were "far more likely to be abused and neglected."

During his apology for his false claims, Wells blamed his wife's illness for putting him under pressure and leading to his comments.

After his resignation, Wells made repeated public statements critical of his party, the DUP, claiming he should still be a government minister. After a particularly derogatory interview, the DUP stripped Wells of almost all power within the party in May of 2018.

Maybe it's time shows stopped giving air time to "both sides" on every issue when one side has no credibility.

Always wanted to learn to dance? Learn with Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing With the Stars own ballroom champion turned judge, Len Goodman. Dance with Len Goodman is available here.

********

Listen to the first two episodes of George Takei's podcast, 'Oh Myyy Pod!', where we explore the racially charged videos that have taken the internet by storm.

Be sure to subscribe here and never miss an episode.

More from News/lgbtq

Brandon Johnson; Donald Trump
Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for National Urban League; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Mayor Offers Fiery Warning Over Trump's Plan To Deploy National Guard To Chicago

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a fiery warning over President Donald Trump's "uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound" plan to deploy the National Guard to Chicago as part of the federal government's crime crackdown.

The Pentagon has been planning a military intervention in Chicago for weeks, including mobilizing several thousand National Guard members and weighing the deployment of active-duty troops, the Washington Post reported over the weekend.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Dave Collum and Tucker Carlson
The Tucker Carlson Show

Tucker Carlson Slammed After Agreeing With Guest Who Said We 'Should Have Sided With Hitler' In WWII

Former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson sparked backlash online after agreeing with Cornell University organic chemistry professor Dave Collum that Americans are learning World War II history "all wrong" and that the United States "should have sided with" genocidal German Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler.

Collum likened himself to Darryl Cooper, another Carlson guest who has branded Winston Churchill the “chief villain” of World War II. He went on to invoke General George S. Patton, claiming Patton had voiced the same view. In reality, Patton warned after the war that the U.S. had “fought the wrong enemy,” a reference to his concern about the Soviet Union rather than advocacy for Hitler.

Keep ReadingShow less
JD Vance
NBC News

Vance Hit With Brutal History Lesson After Claiming WWII Ended With 'Negotiation'

MAGA Vice President JD Vance displayed his ignorance of history by claiming WWII ended with a negotiation instead of the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan.

In an appearance on Meet the Press on Sunday, Vance told host Kristen Welker that concessions and diplomacy are vital to end major conflicts.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Fires Director Of Digital Content After New TikTok Account Is Met With Thousands Of Trolling Comments

President Donald Trump fired Billy McLaughlin, his director of digital content, shortly after the White House's official TikTok account was inundated with social media users demanding the administration release the Epstein files, which are said to contain detailed lists of some of the late financier, pedophile, and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein's most high-profile clients and enablers.

Trump himself is widely believed to be in the Epstein files and has rejected calls by his followers to release them, admonishing critics of Attorney General Pam Bondi, who recently concluded no such list exists, despite claiming the exact opposite just months ago.

Keep ReadingShow less

Jobs That Make Way More Money Than People Even Realize

Everybody needs a job.

And with this economy, things are getting tight.

Keep ReadingShow less