12/11/2006
Glasgow City Council Leader Steven Purcell: I'm Gay
Rumors have forced another politician out of the closet. This time it's Steven Purcell, leader of Glasgow, Scotland's City Council.
Said Purcell in an announcement Friday night: "Over the past couple of weeks the rumours surrounding my marriage have increasingly become a distraction to me. I wish to set out in public the facts surrounding the issue. For the last year my marriage has been in trouble and some months ago my wife and I separated. One of the issues we have been facing up to is the fact that I have realised I am gay. Over the last two to three weeks I have been telling close family, friends and colleagues. Now that they are aware of the situation, and that Katrina and I are clear they understand the issues, I want to dispel the rumours and get on with the job I am privileged to do as leader of the city council."
The 34-year-old politician was the youngest-ever leader elected to the Glasgow City Council at 32 and has been praised by Tony Blair for the promising social changes he has brought to the city. He's widely expected to advance beyond local politics in the future.
Purcell's wife said the announcement did not come as a surprise: "It did not come as a shock to me to find out Steven was gay and I now intend to offer him continued friendship and support and otherwise to get on with my own very busy life."
Posted 1:16 PM EST by Andy Towle in I'm Gay, News, Scotland | Permalink
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Thank god for his guts to come out. This guy is now the United Kingdoms most powerful "out" political leader. Perhaps a rolemodel to many others
Posted by: tony | Dec 11, 2006 1:50:06 PM
Finally someone not surrounded by scandals. kudos to him and his wife.
Posted by: Ron C. | Dec 11, 2006 1:55:34 PM
Well it wasn't so much being forced out, just a pre-emptive strike after the tabloids decided to take an interest last week. (There was nothing, that I know of at least, in print regarding his sexuality before he made it official on Friday.)
Haven't seen him in Polo yet, but I guess it's a matter of time before he's rubbing shoulders with all the other closet politicians that enjoy a drink in there...
Posted by: Fawkes | Dec 11, 2006 2:00:31 PM
Now that he's come out of the closet can someone make sure he gets a better haircut?
Posted by: peterparker | Dec 11, 2006 2:17:41 PM
Peterparker, really, he's English for God's sake. What do you want?
Posted by: Bill | Dec 11, 2006 2:19:34 PM
He had a great cover. His hair is as dumb straight man's look.
Posted by: brad | Dec 11, 2006 2:23:24 PM
There are out members of parliament too. Some were in leadership positions at various points.
Posted by: Anon | Dec 11, 2006 3:03:29 PM
but none in leadership, ie tony blairs cabinet, anymore which makes him the biggest queer in British political life
Posted by: anon | Dec 11, 2006 3:58:09 PM
Are we hurting that much for the daily outings that we are focusing on 4th or 5th tier politicos in these unknown cities? What's next....? Security Guard at the courthouse in Shanghai? Mailman in Mumbai? Garbage guy in Saskatchewan? Meter maid in Cyprus? Its just a little too random, and in fact the more emphasis and celebration we extoll on people like this for simply coming out, the more it alientes us.
Posted by: Randy | Dec 11, 2006 4:11:57 PM
I agree with you Randy but as he has 37'000+ members of staff and a budget of almost 6 billion dollars then he is a bit more than your average joe dont you think?
Posted by: ny4ever | Dec 11, 2006 4:18:10 PM
Glasgow is a major city in the UK....and councils are the real power in UK cities, not Mayors or Lord Mayors. It's only **unknown** to those who's main interest is who's winning Survivor and not real life.
And, he's NOT English, he's Scottish(saying he's English, even in a gay club in Glasgow will get you in a fight)and the haircut is quite common. In fact, in all my 3 years in the UK, I saw quite a few gay men wearing this style. I would be more worried about how he looks in a kilt :)
Posted by: joshua | Dec 11, 2006 6:12:28 PM
If he lost weight he would look really good. I hope he does because he's a diamond in the rough.
Posted by: Jack | Dec 11, 2006 8:40:24 PM
I know you guys don't mean any harm but do we really need to take pot shots at his haircut or speculate on how much weight he needs to lose? He just came out as a high profile figure. When we gays go right to the "looks" first, it sends the wrong message to gays who aren't out and don't look like Thomas Roberts.
Posted by: mark m | Dec 12, 2006 9:37:45 AM
"This guy is now the United Kingdoms most powerful "out" political leader".
That is a gross exaggeration. There have been a number of openly gay government ministers (Chris Smith, Nick Brown) Mandelson is also known to be gay of course (although he has never discussed it, it is an open secret). There are also many openly gay MP's of all political persuasions (Alan Duncan, Chris Bryant, Simon Hughes to name but 3). To say nothing of the many 'out' local councillors; men and women. Its not considered *that* newsworthy these days in the UK. Most people won't even have heard of this guy. I hadn't before I read this...
Posted by: brainiac_amour | Dec 17, 2006 3:56:29 PM