Coventry councillor who suggested LGBTQ people were ‘promiscuous’ has apologised for his comments
Glenn Williams was called to resign after saying two women kissing was 'pornography'
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
A Coventry councillor who faced calls to resign after suggesting LGBTQ people were ‘promiscuous’ has apologised for his comments and said he didn’t intend to cause offence.
Councillor Glenn Williams – who sits as an independent on the council and represents the Bablake ward – was criticised during a outburst where he said two women kissing was ‘pornography’.
He then said the city should teach ‘traditional family values’ and ‘not how to be promiscuous’.
Williams said: “There are a lot of very concerned parents who are worried about what is going to be taught to very young children.
“Last week, a friend of mine who is very broad minded, telephoned me as her 13-year-old son had some home from school because his teacher had given them tips – I’m sorry I’m not very comfortable about this – about how to come out, and had shown a video of two women kissing.
“Does Cllr Maton [the cabinet member for education] agree with me that this sort of video which bluntly I regard as pornography should not be shown in Coventry schools and what we should have is a policy that promotes traditional family values – not how to be promiscuous – but how to respect traditional family values?”
A clip from Full Council yesterday. @Glenn_Williams1 making an impression as always.
This time a question about what he considers to be “pornography” being shown in Coventry schools.
Never a dull moment. @Cllr_KevinMaton responds. But @becky_gittins also responded strongly. pic.twitter.com/913tCOVNHC— Simon Gilbert (@TheSimonGilbert) January 15, 2020
After his speech went viral on social media, Williams met with Coventry Pride and Birmingham schoolteacher and former Attitude Pride Award winner Andrew Moffat to discuss his comments.
In a video posted online, Williams apologises for his comments and said he never intended to cause offence.
He said: “I’m really grateful to have met with members of Coventry Pride. They have really helped me a lot, more than people might realize.
“I just need to tell you, to members of the LGBT community and others, I owe you such a big apology and that is meant very sincerely, very sincerely indeed.
“The unfortunate use of words – not intended to cause offense and I had no idea about how far that would go – and actually I’m really grateful to Coventry Pride for what they have done tonight and what I hope we can do in the future.”
Watch the video below: