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23 August 2016

Radio host clashes with Christian activist who blamed Tom Daley’s Olympic loss on ‘turning gay’

By Will Stroude

Earlier this week, British religious group Christian Voice took to Twitter to offer some thoughtless commentary on Tom Daley’s performance at the Olympic Games.

Referring to Tom’s failure to make it to the men’s singles diving finals, the group tweeted: “turning gay doesn’t seem to have done Tom Daley any favours,” adding “we need to remember that Tom Daley only went gay because he was seduced by an older man.”

The tweet quickly came to wider public attention after being spotted by Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who slammed the group’s “stupidity” and “spite”.

Now, LBC presenter Iain Dale has got in on the action, calling out the man behind the tweet, Stephen Green, in an on-air phone interview which resulted in a bizarre and bigoted outpouring.

Green told the host: “[Tom Daley’s] held up as such a gay icon, the gays really feel I’ve attacked one of their own. By walking away from the gay network, by renewing his mind, Tom Daley would do better. That’s just my belief.”

He continued: “I really wish Daley would shut up about starting a family with his fiancé. Two men can’t have a baby. Someone should tell him quietly that a woman has to get involved.”

As Green continued to rant, Dale chipped in: “I just can’t think why you’re so obsessed with Tom Daley. People will have their own theories I guess.”

But Dale wasn’t having any of it. Hitting back at Green, he said “Why is it you call yourself Christian Voice? To my mind, you should be done under the Trade Descriptions Act. If Christianity is anything, it is about spreading love.”

Amen, Iain.

Listen to the full conversation below:

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