CBB has proved I’m right on gays
ANN Widdecombe says her CBB success proves the public back her controversial views.
The former MP, 70, had faced criticism in the TV house for her anti-gay rights stance, but viewers voted her runner-up in the final.
In her first newspaper chat, Ann said: “I don’t regret my voting on gay rights at all. I don’t arrive at those views lightly…I arrive at them because I’ve thought them through.
“I explained those views to people and stood by what I thought. And the public appear to like freedom of speech, because actually those views are shared by quite a lot of people…people just don’t say it out loud.
“The first time I was saved from eviction was a highlight. I felt like my basic message, that I have a right to free speech, whether you agree with me or not…that message came across.”
During her years as an MP Ann opposed same-sex adoption, the equal age of consent and civil partnerships.
She also believes people can be “cured” of homosexuality and opposes transgender rights.
But she has denied being homophobic and said: “If I was really homophobic I wouldn’t have gay friends. They wouldn’t want anything to do with me. I don’t judge people by what they do in the bedroom, I judge people by how they act as human beings.
“Are they kind? Would they give a smile to somebody? Those are the questions I ask.”
This series of CBB was themed around “the year of the woman” to mark 100 years since they got the vote.
But on Friday, viewers voted for a man to win – Shane Jenek, aka drag star Courtney Act.
Ann said: “I’m glad a man won the competition. I hate tokenism. I hate people saying ‘a woman must win’. That’s not because I hate women…there are so many snowflakes who find an insult in anything.”
She added: “I wouldn’t have agreed to do it had it been allfemale for the whole series. I didn’t much like the first few days when we were just women. All of us were waiting for the men to come in so we could have a better time.”
Ann was accused of being anti-women by rival housemate Rachel Johnson.
Hitting back, she said: “I’m not a misogynist and I do not hate women, but I have one special principle – it’s about being on a level playing field with men.” Jess was famous for glamour modelling and stints on MTV’s Ex on The Beach.
She was so popular with her housemates she was never nominated for eviction. Jess said: “Doing this show could not have given me a bigger confidence boost. “The gist people got from me before was that I was a silly glamour model. That gives you a stereotype. “But I feel like I’ve beaten that.”
Jess has previously battled anxiety and other mental health issues that were so severe she once attempted suicide. But her
stint in CBB has forced her to face her demons.
She said: “I suffered from a bit of anxiety on the show. But the show has actually helped me beat anxiety because when I got into a state I had to sort myself out.
“Working through it means in the future I know I can get through anything.”