Palace charities hit back at homophobia claim (From Your Local Guardian)

Palace charities hit back at homophobia claim

2:51pm Thursday 9th October 2008 in

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The charity that manages Hampton Court Palace has hit back at claims it is homophobic for not stocking a gay guide to London.

Last week, Historic Royal Palaces, which also manages Kew Palace, the Tower of London, Kensington Palace and Banqueting House, was accused by gay activists of homophobia.

Activists claimed it refused to sell Time Out Gay and Lesbian London in its bookshops because of its homosexual content.

The charity dismissed the claim and said the decision not to stock the book was a commercial decision that had been “unfairly and unjustly turned into accusations of discrimination and homophobia”.

A spokesman said: “The allegation has really upset us actually - it’s just not the case.

“Historic Royal Palaces has never banned the guide. For purely commercial reasons we don’t stock any Time Out or other London guide books - this is a world away from actively banning one particular publication.”

The charity said that as a conservation and education charity it relied heavily on retail income and had to make decisions on the books and products it sold based on feedback from visitor research.

It said its stock met the purchasing habits of its customers and was largely based on a range of history books, historic novels and children’s publications.

The charity also denied that it discriminated against any group in society.

The spokesman said: “Historic Royal Palaces supports inclusion regardless of gender, racial, ethnic or national origin, disability, age or sexuality. We value diversity and celebrate difference.

“Just because we look after what we value from the past, it doesn’t mean we have outdated views on the present.”

Local gay rights campaigner Gino Meriano, chairman of Gay Surrey, said: “If a shop is not stocking any travel guides at all, then it is not discriminating against the gay community if they do not stock this particular publication.”