Actor Rupert Everett has criticised gay parenting saying “I can’t think of anything worse than being brought up by two gay dads.”
Mr Everett, who is openly gay himself, made the frank comments in an interview for The Sunday Times Magazine.
He said his mother thinks children need a mother and a father, and he agrees with her.
Wishes
Mr Everett said: “I’d imagine she still wishes I had a wife and kids.
“She thinks children need a father and a mother and I agree with her.
“I can’t think of anything worse than being brought up by two gay dads.”
Campaigners
Mr Everett, who revealed he was gay more than 20 years ago, made it very clear he was “not speaking on behalf of the gay community.”
But gay rights campaigners have hit out at the remarks.
Ben Summerskill, the chief executive of homosexual lobby group Stonewall said: “Rupert should get out a little bit more to see the facts for himself.
No evidence
“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.”
Rupert Everett, 53, later defended his comments in an interview on ITV’s This Morning.
He said: “I’m not against anybody doing anything.”
He added: “Just I, personally, feel like that. But it doesn’t mean to say…I have lots of gay friends with children, I have lots of gay friends who have got married, I’ve been to lots of gay weddings, but I’m not big into marriage straight or gay to be honest.”
Egocentric
Mr Everett has previously said the notion of gay people using a surrogate to have a baby was “egocentric and vain.”
In an online interview three years ago he said, “this whole thing of forcing the idea of parenthood on us gay men is so bogus.”
Back in July, Sir Elton John said it will be “heartbreaking” when the child adopted by him and his civil partner finds out he has no mummy.