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Original poster

Is there a disproportionately higher number of gay MPs? If so, why?

35 replies

Whippet · 26/10/2011 11:52

Sorry, badly worded title, and please, this is a general question I've always wondered - not any kind of veiled homophobia.

It just seems to me that there are more gay MPs as a % of the total compared to the average % in the population?

I just wondered why, really? I find myself thinking that the role is so unconducive to life with family/children maybe that it's only people with fewer commitments who can cope with it?

Or is it a public school bias? Confused

Or is it not greater than average, but just seems like it because of the media obsession with these things?

OP posts:
Original poster
Whippet · 26/10/2011 14:43

Lemon - yes - I see what you mean - be more moved to change things?

OP posts:
LemonDifficult · 26/10/2011 14:33

Don't know the stats so not sure if your premise is right but...

Is it possible that people who've grown up being slightly outside normal expectations might feel injustice more strongly than others (as a % of population) and therefore be moved to go into politics?

Original poster
Whippet · 26/10/2011 14:30

tooearly - I think that IS what I mean. I know that there ARE lots of MPs with partners & children, but everything I've ever read suggests that many of them find the current systems in parliament work against them in every way - the late night debates and votes, the weekend constituency work, the lack of facilities for e.g. babies in the commons. I read a lot of political biographies, and in many of the male ones it is clear that they are either happy, or are forced, to accept that their families need to survive without seeing them much, or in the case of female MPs, that they have to delegate the task of raising children to nannies/ partners/ grandparents or borading schools.

OP posts:
tooearlymustdache · 26/10/2011 13:55

I'm rather disappointed at the insinuation that an adult with children cannot commit to being an MP, that's all.

Is this what you mean?

Original poster
Whippet · 26/10/2011 13:50

tooearly - yes, of course they have families and commitments, but I think it's probably fair to say that they are probably less likely to have the sort of "partner + 2 .4 kids" that a heterosexual MP has?

I personally know one gay female MP, and she openly admits that she has been able to devote time to her political career because she doesn't have children. Of course, I appreciate this can equally apply to single people too...

AMIS - you're probably right - in a high profile role it's probably more likely to be commented on, or they are more likely to be openly out.

I think a few years ago there was a figure of 6% of the population being gay that was being bandied about? And didn't Labour propose a 'target' of about 40 gay MPs (which was about 6% of MPs)?

Although I can think of lots of gay MPs, I certianly can't think of 40!

OP posts:
AMumInScotland · 26/10/2011 12:26

I doubt it's any higher than average - how many gay MPs are you aware of anyway? It's just that when one comes out, or there are "suspicions" it gets into the newspapers. In most jobs, people can be gay or straight and nobody pays any particular attention.

tooearlymustdache · 26/10/2011 12:03

do gay people not have families and commitments too then?

bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe · 26/10/2011 12:02

Really? I thought about 10% of the general population is homosexual. Are there more gay mps than this?

LynetteScavo · 26/10/2011 11:59

I think it's media obsesion. It's easier to come out than be outed, which will inevitably happen eventually if you are an MP, because it makes good headlines.

You could say the same thing about pop stars and hairdressers. I bet no more are gay than accountants...but accountants just plod on with their lives, and it's never an issue.

seeker · 26/10/2011 11:55

What are the %ages?

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