A political
scandal has erupted in Britain after the Evening
Standard newspaper reported Thursday that antigay
Conservative parliament member Gregory Barker left his
wife of 14 years for a man.
Barker, 40,
separated from his wife, Celeste, with whom he has two
children, in July without divulging any reasons for the
split. The Standard maintains Barker carried on a
year-long affair with the male decorator of his
country estate in Rye, East Sussex. The man
accompanied Barker on a series of official business trips,
including a global warming fact-finding trip to Norway
earlier this year.
"It is true that
my marriage ended a couple of months ago," Barker said
while addressing the press outside his London apartment.
"That is a sad thing, but it happens. I am not commenting on
anything else; I am not in a current relationship."
The public outing
has lead to increased scrutiny over Barker's voting
record on gay rights legislation. Barker called attention to
his support of the new Civil Partnership law in 2004,
but the Standard pointed to the "antigay rating"
of 60.2% bestowed on Barker by the political Web site the
Public Whip. Barker had previously voted against a
bill allowing nonmarried couples to adopt children and
supported a ban on the "promotion" of homosexuality in
schools. (The Advocate)
Charlie Kirk DID say stoning gay people was the 'perfect law' — and these other heinous quotes