UKIP leadership hopefuls includes 3 LGBT people and 2 anti-LGBT candidates

UKIP has announced its final list of leadership candidates, which includes three out LGBT people and two people who have opposed LGBT rights.

David Kurten and John Rees Evans have both vocally opposed LGBT rights.

And even Anne Marie Waters, openly lesbian, has had strong links to the far-right.

PinkNews broke the news earlier this week that David Kurten, an elected member of the London Assembly and a candidate for UKIP leader, had made comments linking homosexuality to childhood sexual abuse.

Mr Kurten, who is backed by influential Leave.EU donor Arron Banks, had claimed: “[Sexuality] is unlikely to be fixed at birth. Study after study also shows that the incidence of homosexuality is much higher among people who have been sexually abused as children.

“This is an issue which needs to be addressed but is not because of political correctness.”

Kurten also vowed to fight for a new ban on same-sex marriage, which threatens to void the thousands of existing same-sex marriages in the UK.

Jonathan Rees Evans last year claimed a gay donkey raped his horse and has lost out in his bid to lead to the UK Independence Party in November.

Rees-Evans, who is best known for claiming that a “homosexual donkey” tried to rape his horse, came last with just 2775 votes. Paul Nuttall was elected leader with 9622 votes, with Suzanne Evans in second place.

The outspoken activist made the claim in 2014.

They are joined by three out-LGBT candidates, Peter Whittle, David Coburn and Anne Marie Waters.

• Nov 29

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