Summary
Police questioned the family-values campaigner, Lynette Burrows, after she expressed the view on a radio programme that homosexual men may not be suitable for raising children. Police telephoned saying they were investigating a reported 'homophobic' incident.
In December 2005 Lynette Burrows, an author and family-values campaigner, took part in a BBC Radio 5 Live talk show. The show, hosted by Victoria Derbyshire, was looking at the issue of civil partnerships (marriage-like rights for homosexual couples).1
During the course of the discussion Mrs Burrows said she did not believe that adoption by a gay couple was the best approach when raising a child.
The following day, Mrs Burrows was shocked to receive a telephone call from the police who said a member of the public had made a complaint about her 'homophobic' comments. Mrs Burrows says the police officer proceeded to read her a 'lecture about homophobia'. Despite no crime having been committed, Mrs Burrows feels that the policewoman was pressurising her.2 Many police forces follow the ACPO guidelines which recommend that all 'hate crimes' are investigated regardless of evidence.3
Following the radio programme, the BBC issued a statement saying that: "In the context of a live radio programme it sometimes happens that challenging and unpleasant opinions are expressed."4 Such is the view of the BBC when it comes to traditional opinions on sexual morality.
- 1The Daily Telegraph, 10 December 2005, see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/12/10/ngay10.xml as at 16 June 2006
- 2Daily Mail, 12 December 2005
- 3Daily Mail, 15 January 2006. These guidelines are currently under review (Daily Mail, 17 January 2006).
- 4The Daily Telegraph, 10 December 2005, see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/12/10/ngay10.xml as at 16 June 2006
