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Jim Molyneaux's UUP operated ‘don't ask, don't tell' policy on homosexuality

Lord Molyneaux probably had `some sort of homosexual sensibilities', according to gay UUP councillor Jeff Dudgeon
Lord Molyneaux probably had `some sort of homosexual sensibilities', according to gay UUP councillor Jeff Dudgeon Lord Molyneaux probably had `some sort of homosexual sensibilities', according to gay UUP councillor Jeff Dudgeon

UUP councillor and gay activist Jeff Dudgeon has said the party operated a policy of "don't ask, don't tell" when it came to members' sexuality at the time of James Molyneaux's leadership.

The Irish News revealed yesterday that the former Ulster Unionist leader had a close friendship with an openly gay man that spanned three decades, at a time when he was also voting against homosexual rights including opposing an equal age of consent in 1994.

Christopher Luke spoke of his love for the politician on the first anniversary of his death, saying "I grieve for you... you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women."

He told the Irish News they had a "very, very close relationship", describing it as a biblical "David and Jonathan relationship".

Mr Dudgeon, who was not a member of the party at that time, said had he known of the relationship with Mr Luke he would have felt Lord Molyneaux was "hypocritical".

The councillor for Balmoral in south Belfast, who was questioned by the RUC while campaigning for decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1976, took a case to Strasbourg that lasted for five years and ultimately successfully challenged Northern Ireland's laws criminalising private consensual sexual acts between men.

"Thirty years ago, I would have said it seemed hypocritical, especially given his voting pattern," he said.

"He didn't lead on the issue. He voted on legislation that came through after my Strasbourg case."

Mr Dudgeon said he now believes Lord Molyneaux, who led the UUP from 1979 to 1995, was himself homosexual.

"He probably was, but whether he was sexually active is impossible to tell, but he had some sort of homosexual sensibilities."

The politician said he had first been made aware of the relationship "a few years ago" when Lord Molyneaux's "close companion and protége" Mr Luke contacted him to discuss it.

It was a move which Mr Dudgeon said "surprised" him as "I rather assumed (Jim Molyneaux) wasn't gay, despite the fact he was a bachelor and it was assumed".

"He was of that generation when it was unusual not to have been married but if you were gay you wouldn't necessarily have acted on it and you wouldn't have advertised it.

"Some people are courageous and break the rules, most people in political parties take the discipline of that party and don't step out of line and say anything that would bring the party any difficulty."

He pointed out that Lord Molyneaux would have been a near contemporary of Montgomery Hyde, a barrister and UUP politician who lost his Westminster seat as a result of campaigning for homosexual law reform.

"I don't think he was even gay," Mr Dudgeon said.

"Some people step up to the mark and pay the price.

"A lot of gay people operated in parties for a century previously and kept their heads down. Society wasn't that condemning.

"In a way the Conservative and Unionist parties could both be very tolerant, but the deal was `Keep your trap shut' really.

"Nationalists can get hysterical about it. Roger Casement, even now it is significant, couldn't, categoricially couldn't be homosexual and sexual as well.

"With the Unionist party there was a tradition - don't ask, don't tell."