GB News host Bev Turner has shut down an activist's argument on Donald Trump after claiming that the term "gay" is being used more frequently as a "pejorative word" since the US President was elected.
Activist Lewis Oakley claimed that although he disagrees with the representation of Trump as a singular "boogeyman", he believes the community is facing more discrimination as a result.
The debate was sparked after Doctor Who writer Russell T. Davies claimed that the "gay society" is in the "greatest danger he has ever seen" following Trump's election victory.
Speaking at the Gaydio Pride awards in Manchester, the writer said: "As a gay man, I feel like a wave of anger and violence and resentment is heading towards us on a vast scale."
Bev Turner shut down a guest's argument after claiming that Trump is 'dangerous' to the gay community
Reuters / GB News
Discussing Davies's comments on GB News, Oakley argued that there has been a "shift" in attitude towards the LGBT community following the re-election of Trump.
He explained: "This whole kind of looking at Trump as the boogeyman, he's the bad man - he's just one person. I think it's a microcosm for what the feeling is.
"Let's not forget he won a pretty decent election with the popular vote, the swing state, so I think we have to take a step back and think, okay, why would people vote for someone like Trump?"
Echoing the thoughts of Davies, Oakley added: "I do think with Russell T. Davies's point, I think there has been a bit of a shift here, and I can sense it myself now because the pendulum swung so far one way, it's now swinging back and people are trying to reassess where the line is."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Russell T. Davies claimed that the gay society is in the 'greatest danger he's ever seen' following Trump's victory
PA
Sharing an example of how attitudes have shifted, Oakley claimed that the term "gay" is being used more frequently as a "pejorative word" since the US President was elected.
He stated: "I've even heard comments like people saying, 'oh, that's gay', and I thought, I feel like you wouldn't have said that a few years ago."
Bev then interjected, shutting down Oakley's argument: "No, surely not. People aren't using gay as a pejorative word just because Donald Trump is in the White House?"
Oakley stood firm, responding: "I think you'd be surprised, because I think people think that things went so far one way, and then there's been this big political shift and people are thinking, well, where's the line now? Can I get away with saying this? Can I get away with saying that? And we're seeing it in companies rolling back their DEI too."
Bev told Oakley that people definitely are 'not using gay as a pejorative word because Donald Trump is in office'
GB News
Oakley was then pressed by host Andrew Pierce on his argument about DEI, claiming that "it's a good thing" that DEI hiring is being restricted.
Oakley agreed, telling GB News: "Do you know what, I don't disagree, in a sense of I'd rather not have companies pretending to like us just because they feel that they had to.
"If they really want to help us, then that's great for them, but I'd rather not have pretend people, pretend companies supporting us. Just support us if you actually want to."
In further remarks by Davies, he stated: "I’m not being alarmist, I’m 61, I know gay society very, very well, and I think we’re in the greatest danger I have ever seen... I think times are darkening beyond all measure and beyond anything I have seen in my lifetime."
