When asked directly whether he was gay he replied "No, I'm not," adding "But it absolutely should not matter if I was. If I was, and if people were to judge me on that, I would ask them to think again. There is no reason why you shouldn't have a gay leader of a party, or even a gay prime minister. I don't think this is an issue."
Nobel sentiments, and the void could not agree more.
however...
Hughes rose to prominence when he won his seat in the notorious Bermondsey by-election in 1983. Considered a safe seat for Labour, who fielded gay activist Peter Tatchell as a candidate, Hughes won one of the biggest ever swings after a vicious homophobic campaign was launched against Tatchell.
Labour activists putting up posters in Tatchell's support found their windows attacked. Tatchell himself received hate mail, including a live bullet, and was attacked when out in the street.
Whilst some of the more extreme incidents were carried out under a cloak of anonymity (and remember the National Front also fielded a candidate) Lib Dem male canvassers for the party were seen wearing badges reading "I've been kissed by Peter Tatchell".
Hughes has always distanced himself from these incidents, however it was him who ultimately benefited, and the election flyer published above suggests a slightly more pro-active part that Hughes may have played in the proceedings.
Rumours of Hughes' sexuality have abounded since he began his leadership campaign, with many believing him to be a closet homosexual, although until now Hughes has remained quiet on the issue. However many in the LGBT community seem to be convinced as this quote from the scotsgay regarding the forementioned election reveals "spineless Simon Hughes, who remained firmly in the closet when any politicised gay man with any self-respect would have come out as a simple act of solidarity."
As revealed on this blog Hughes has a penchant for partying, and we contacted our source (an ex Guy's Hospital fundraiser) about the rumours. Referring to the pretty young girl on his arm (featured under Simon Hughes, 'e's a Raver!) we were told
"she was a young woman who worked in the PR department at Guy's. Her and Hughes were always together at any social function and clearly had a strong bond between them"
"there was a rumour at Guy's, almost universally believed that they were an item in some way. I never saw any firm evidence of this, but her body language and the way she was around him led me to think that at the least she had the hots for him"
"theres a pub on the Thames called Doggetts Coat and Badge where the Guy's fundraising team held a few events. It was staffed by a posse of young gay men, a couple of whom claimed to have slept with Simon. Now I had this down as the kind of 'I've slept with every member of Take That' story that often makes the rounds in Soho bars, but now I'm not so sure. Could the PR girl have been his cover?"
Whatever the truth Hughes claimed that the reason he is not married is because every woman he has asked has turned him down. Poor chap.
Did Hughes Knife Kennedy?
Hughes is known to be driven by ambition, and much like in the Bermondsey by-election, he has been the one to benefit by the brutal attacks on Kennedy which led to his downfall. Hughes was always likely to be favourite for party leader, having stood against Kennedy in the 1999 leadership battle. After losing to Kennedy, Hughes
was quoted as saying that Kennedy "had never been a great policy promoter [or] an ardent position-taker." In another interview, he argued the party would "go downhill" and lose at least six seats at the next election.
Teflon Hughes seems to have a knack of benefiting from the misfortune of others, but it may be that skeletons will come back to haunt him if elected leader.
Which should be fun.
incidentally the nice folk at indymedia have relented and published the original piece about Hughes' nighttime activities.
Hughes Out Forever!
Simon Hughes, 'e's a Raver!
Tatchell Backs Hughes - exclusive
Simon Hughes, 'e's a Raver! censored by indymedia
Censored Simon Hughes Story - update
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