Ian McKellen Criticizes Margaret Thatcher, Recalls Late Prime Minister's Anti-Gay Policies

Actor says the former U.K. leader should be remembered for not promoting positive views of homosexuality

By Peter Gicas Apr 17, 2013 6:25 PMTags
Margaret Thatcher, Ian McKellenTheo Wargo, Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Margaret Thatcher may be gone, but the former U.K. prime minister has not been forgotten. In fact, according to Ian McKellen, there are certain things that should never be forgotten about her.

"The official obituaries have been, as often happens, partial in both senses: sympathetic and incomplete. With regard to the divisive effect of her reign, one omission was significant and glaring: Section 28," the actor wrote in a post on his website.

"Lest we forget, this nasty, brutish and short measure of the third Thatcher administration, was designed to slander homosexuality, by prohibiting state schools from discussing positively gay people and our 'pretended family relations.' Opposition to Section 28 galvanised a new generation of activists who joined with long-time campaigners for equality. Stonewall UK was founded, to repeal Section 28 and pluck older rotten anti-gay legislation from the constitutional tree. This has taken two decades to achieve."

McKellen went on to say that "Thatcher was led by her supporters...to vote against Section 28's repeal," noting it was "her final contribution to U.K. politics" and "she dies too early to oppose Parliament's inevitable acceptance of same-gender marriage."

Thatcher passed away on April 8 at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke. Thousands gathered on Wednesday for her funeral at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.