Eamonn Holmes defends himself against homophobia claims and praises Britain’s first gay dads
By Josh Lee
Eamonn Holmes has defended himself against the backlash he received following a documentary on Britain’s first gay dads in 2000.
Holmes spoke to Tony and Barrie Drewitt-Barlow 16 years ago, when they were making headlines as the first gay couple in the country to have a surrogate baby via IVF.
In the interview Holmes said, “There are people who are going to say it’s not natural. [They] will say you’ve been shopping for the ultimate gay accessory,” which he claimed was “carefully edited” so they would appear to be his views.
Reflecting on the programme 16 years on, the presenter said today (August 30) that the questions mirrored the mood of the time: “as a journalist I reflect what other people are saying.”
“I don’t like having to justify personal views because as a journalist I reflect what other people are saying, I put the opposite question, which I did do in that interview and pointed it out,” he said.
Tony and Barrie also defended Holmes, saying, “You asked the questions relevant to the times, which were spot on.”
Holmes then went on to say “I would like to say, for the record, any children brought up in a loving environment, the way they are with you guys, you can only be proud of the sort of parents you are.”
Watch the video below: