Bristol Student Union under fire for attempting to no-platform philosopher who doesn't believe in same-sex marriage

Philosopher of aesthetics Roger Scruton has previously spoken out against same-sex marriage, calling it 'damaging' and 'homophobic'

Roger Scruton, a philopsher specialising in aesthetics, has published a number of controversial writings around sexuality and same-sex marriage (Rex)

Officers at the University of Bristol Students' Union have come under fire for attempting to no-platform one of the UK’s most eminent philosophers, over homophobic comments he allegedly made several years ago.

Sir Roger Scruton, a philosopher of aesthetics, was invited to the University of Bristol under the Richmond Lectures, pitched as: “Coming to University is about broadening your mind and learning new things. The Richmond Lectures are part of Bristol SU's contribution to this!”

His invitation has led to complaints, however, despite the philosopher speaking at the university just last year.

Union representatives have raised issue with past comments Mr Scruton made over same-sex marriage - in particular, those featured in his 1986 book ‘Sexual Desire’ and his 1989 essay ‘Sexual Morality and the Liberal Consensus’.

Mr Scruton also co-authored a controversial article in the Spectator back in 2013, entitled ‘Same-sex marriage is homophobic’.

He said: “To pursue gay equality is noble and right. But to pursue it by undermining heterosexual institutions is deeply damaging to both hetero and homosexual persons alike.”

Three years previously, the academic had appeared to retract some of his part writings on homosexuality, arguing that he had changed his mind.

In a statement, Bristol SU said: “We are in the process of confirming speakers for this year’s Richmond Lectures.

“Given our commitment to Equality and Diversity, the SU officer team have expressed concerns about one of the speakers given his published views on homosexuality and have raised this with the student led committee of the initiative for them to consider.”

No-platforming – the process of disallowing controversial speakers to voice their opinions – is a hotly debated topic at UK universities.

A debacle last year at the University of Warwick led to a national discussion of the practice, when the SU there briefly banned Iranian secularist Maryam Namazie from speaking on campus.

Despite the debate over the practice, 63 per cent of university students still support the NUS’s No Platform policy, which covers individuals they deem ‘racist or fascist’ being banned from speaking at any NUS event.

LGBT and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell commented: “I disagree with Roger Scruton's stance on several issues.

Human rights activist Peter Tatchell has spearheaded the campaign against “no-platforming” (Rex)

"He has said some unpleasant, offensive things in the past. But none are sufficiently extreme to warrant him being no platformed.

He should be challenged and protested, not banned. Stopping him from speaking means there will be no opportunity to publicly refute his reactionary ideas."

Mr Tatchell, who has spearheaded protests against no-platforming in universities, continued: “Free speech does not mean allowing bigotry to pass unchallenged. It should always be protested.

The most effective way to do this is by defeating bigoted ideas in open debate and thereby winning the public to oppose intolerance. No-platforms, bans and censorship suppress bigotry but fail to expose and counter it.

“Free speech can only be legitimately restricted when someone makes false, damaging allegations – such as that a person is a rapist or tax fraudster – or when they engage in threats, harassment or the endorsement of violence. As the German communist, Rosa Luxemburg, argued: freedom of speech means nothing if it does not exist for the person who thinks differently."

A spokesperson for Mr Scruton said he is currently lecturing in America and was therefore unavailable to comment.