Openly gay actor Rupert Everett has outraged gay rights groups over new comments has made about gay parenting.
Rupert, 53, told the Sunday Times Magazine that he agrees with his 77-year-old mother’s opinion that “children need a father and a mother”.
“I can’t think of anything worse than being brought up by two gay dads,” Rupert said in the interview.
“Some people might not agree with that. Fine! That’s just my opinion.”
The star then elaborated on his comments: “I’m not speaking on behalf of the gay community. In fact, I don’t feel like I’m part of any ‘community’,”
“The only community I belong to is humanity and we’ve got too many children on the planet, so it’s good not to have more.”
Rupert made the comments with reference to his mother meeting his current boyfriend.
LGBT groups have expressed their disappointment in Rupert for his inflammatory remarks.
“Rupert should get out a little bit more to see the facts for himself. There is absolutely no evidence that the kids of gay parents suffer in the way they are being brought up or in how they develop,” said Ben Summerskill, the chief executive of LGBT rights group Stonewall.
The comments came just one day after the Alternative Parenting Show, an exhibition designed to help same sex couples and gay singles have children, took place in London.
Linda Riley, Managing Director for Square Peg Media who organised the Alternative Parenting Show said: “we are disappointed if the comments attributed to Rupert Everett in this weekend’s Times magazine are true and hope that he has been misquoted.”
