Private parts of sexuality

EX-EASTENDER Pam St Clements and Sir Cliff Richard are old school.

This week, in very different circumstances, they were both asked about their sexuality and relationships. They both declined to comment.

There’s plenty who would say that’s how it should be, a private life should be exactly that and there’s no need for anyone to know your business. I admire them for it.

Sometimes, it feels as if the notion of privacy has disappeared and that I might pick up a dictionary and find the word scored out.

But there is a difference between choosing to keep your relationships private and feeling forced to do so. This weekend, Gay Pride events will take place all over the country.

They celebrate the LGBT community and are symbols of tolerance but we need to strike a note of caution so we don’t get carried away with all the razzmatazz.

Pride has also conducted a survey and nearly three-quarters of those asked said they felt it necessary to hide their sexuality for fear of negative responses from friends, family and colleagues.

That’s not privacy, that’s discrimination and we need to call it out for what it is.

You shouldn’t be forced to be open about your sexuality and relationships but, equally, if you choose to shout it from the rooftops then you should have that choice, too.