[BRIEF NOTE] Gay and Conservative in the UK

[rfmcdonald]

While I'm not surprised that most small-c conservatives in Western democracies have come, if often reluctantly, to embrace gay rights as a reality--isn't the desire to get married fundamentally conservative? and I'm not including the Republicans of the US in this evaluation--news items like this one from the United Kingdom still surprise me.

The party has adapted its blue and green tree as it seeks to rebrand its traditionally "stuffy" image.

The logo was displayed on the Conservative Party website as part of events billed as Conference Pride at the annual political gathering in Manchester.

More than 700 delegates are expected to attend a £15-a-head cocktail party at the Spirit Bar, in the heart of the city's famous gay village, where they will be entertained by a live performance by disco diva Angie Brown.

Andrew Brierly, 29, a party activist from Clapham, south London, said the event is a sign the true-blue party was "modernising" its image to appeal to new voters.

He said: "By hosting events like this it is hoped that voters will recognise that the Conservative party is at the forefront of agenda-setting politics.

"The party is modernising at it is not afraid to broach traditionally taboo subjects such as the rights of the homosexual community.

"I think it is refreshing that this event will be held in Manchester and hopefully will show homosexual party members that the time of locking themselves away in the so-called 'closet' has long since passed."

The event will be compered by Margot James - the party's vice-chairman and first openly lesbian candidate - and Iain Dale, the first openly-homosexual Conservative to contest a parliamentary election.

All this from the party that installed the infamous Clause 28 in 1988 during Thatcher's era. And even she is apparently becoming something of a gay icon.

Can anyone explain this to me?