#timfarron

.@theresa_may called this election and now won't even turn up to debate the issues. Come and defend your record. #whereistheresa

(for the sake of clarity, the originally posted thing above relates to the funny gif, not the post below)

I know it would be best not to dwell on Tim Farron’s non-answer on whether homosexual sex is a sin. What is (almost) said cannot be (almost) unsaid and it’s probably best we all move on.

However, I feel that there is a misunderstanding in the party as to how much this has angered people like me. Or you might say, I’m not angry, I’m intensely disappointed.

I’ve written previously that one of the reasons I was motivated to join the Liberal Democrats nearly 20 years ago was because I wanted to feel part of something bigger. You don’t join the Lib Dems to become part of the political establishment (or at least you didn’t 20 years ago), my motivation was to be with other like minded people. It’s like joining a new family.

So imagine when a member of that family tells you that you’re a sinner just because of your sexuality. Okay, we’re a broad church (poor use of words!), but it’s not just a member saying this, it’s the newly elected head. If he believes such things, do I belong in this family anymore?

For a moment I did consider resigning from the party, as I know some others have done. But I know the party is bigger than Tim Farron. Plus I am also not so self-absorbed to think that my discomfort about this issue is more important than the people who really need a party like the Liberal Democrats to stand up for them. Something I have no doubt Tim will do to the best of his abilities.

But I don’t doubt this will be an open sore in my relationship with the party. I’m sure we’ll rub along fine and I’ll continue to agree with most of the party’s positions, but there will always be this thought in the back of my mind that the leader has made an personal judgment about people like me, just because of our sexuality.

There are those who are indignant that by criticising Tim Farron we are disrespecting his religious beliefs. Well for me liberalism means I don’t have to respect your beliefs, merely your right to hold them. To be honest, I don’t know why saying this puts me in a worse place than a Christian (or Muslim, or someone from whatever religion) telling me I’m a sinner. The difference, it seems to me, is I didn’t choose to be gay, you can choose whether or not to believe in fairies. 

So yes, Tim has his beliefs, I might not like or understand them, but he has them, he’s the democratically leader and I’ll live with that. I’ll be watching him like a hawk on any issues related to LGBT+ rights. I’m sure he’s aware that this is an issue he can’t afford to slip up on (again).