Former top churchman removed from university’s ‘wall of fame’
AN IMAGE of ex-Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey of Clifton, has been removed from a top London university amid student concerns about his views on gay marriage.
The picture is one of a number to be taken off a “wall of fame” at King’s College London (KCL), which said the display “did not capture the diversity of our university community”.
The removal of Lord Carey’s image follows a campaign by a group of students at the institution, who voiced concerns about opinions the church leader expressed over gay marriage.
A spokesman said a number of static portraits, including those of Lord Carey, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Sir Michael Howard had been removed to make space for new digital screens next to a university entrance.
The move followed a review of KCL’s window display policy, conducted last year.
Lord Carey said he did not wish to comment. The university has not commented on the student campaign.
Speaking in 2012, Lord Carey said for “time immemorial”, marriage had been between a man and a woman and gay relationships were not the same.
“Same-sex relationships are not the same as heterosexual relationships and should not be put on the same level,” hesaid.
In a blog, Ben Hunt, who had been involved in running the student campaign and is president of KCL’s student union, said: “LGBT+ students over several years had been concerned with the portrayal of Lord Carey of Clifton as an alumni who should be cele- brated due to his views expressed during the debate regarding gay marriage.
“A petition was signed asking for his removal by hundreds of students several years ago, as well as policy being passed through our democratic system endorsing the union to take this stance.”
Mr Hunt went on to write he worked with the university on the new digital display, and the windows “express a community which strives to be accepting of diversity and inclusive”.
He added: “It comes after a campaign of several years which was concluded through collaboration and a shared will of the Union and College to do more to represent what all of the King’s community does in service of society.”
A KCL spokesman said: “To make space for the screens next to the prominent Strand campus entrance, static portraits, including those of Lord Carey, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Sir Michael Howard, were removed.”