Mayor demands 'anti-gay' apology

John Hipkin: "Deep exception" at claim

A former Cambridge Mayor has demanded an apology after being accused of "heterosexism".

John Hipkin, a Liberal Democrat, says he is enraged and distressed by the complaint which came after he demanded more homes to built for families.

"Family homes can be built for gay people with children," he said.

The council's equal opportunities officer took up the complaint after it was lodged by the Lesbian, Gay and Transsexual Group.

'Provision for families'

Mr Hipkin, who has a gay brother, said that he took "deep exception" to the allegation that his comments had been discriminatory.

"The government is demanding that 47,000 homes be built in the Cambridge sub-region by 2016.

"My only point is that we must make provision for families, too.

"Yet by saying it, I get accused of being homophobic with the only mitigating factor being that I don't consciously know I am."

Heterosexism is the unintentional discrimination towards or against non-heterosexuals due to cultural bias.

The Lesbian, Gay and Transsexual Group, which represents members on the council, was unavailable for comment on Saturday.