Forum messages allegedly made by the new Labour MP for Sheffield Hallam, Jarod O’Mara have surfaced.
An MP who sits on the Women’s and Equality Committee has had past homophobic and sexist forum comments allegedly written by him over a decade ago, unearthed by the political website, Guido Fawkes.
The MP, who unseated Nick Clegg in the last General Election, is said to have used numerous anti-gay slurs on the Morrissey Solo website forum and Drowned In Sound. Terms such as “fudge packers” and driving “up the marmite motorway” to describe gay people were used and a message was written that said gay people were “bitter and resentful about being homosexual”.
Some of the messages date back to 2002.
A message, which apparently used his email address was published which expressed a wish for jazz singer Jamie Cullum to be “sodomised” to death, the message read, “It would be no great loss to the music world if he was sodomised with his own piano and subsequently died of a sore arse. In fact, it would be quite funny.”
In other messages Guido Fawkes reveals that published messages included:
“Just cos he writes about gayness and gay issues, doesn’t mean he drives up the Marmite motorway, or for that matter, allows someone else to drive up his…
“You do mean ‘took it up the ass’ figuratively don’t you?… I just think that this story is much more poignantly romantic than fudge packing Jake or anyone else in a casual manner and I don’t want such a lovely vista to be spoilt.
“I find it funny how some homosexuals think they have the monopoly on being subject to abuse, they should try being Ginger…”
“To those of you that are bitter and resentful about being homosexual, maybe you need to take a bit of pride in your gayness, it’s not something to be ashamed of.”
The account that O’Mara used the same email address he used on another forum website Drowned In Sound.
Taking to Twitter, O’Mara issued an apology, saying he was “ashamed” of the comments that he made online and said that he was wrong to make them. He also apologised for the unacceptable language. However, he only apologised for the comments made about women and not the homophobic comments.
His statement in full:
“I am deeply ashamed of the comments I made online, which have emerged today. I was wrong to make them; I understand why they are offensive and sincerely apologise for my use of such unacceptable language. I made the comments as a young man, at a particularly difficult time in my life, but that is no excuse. Misogyny is a deep problem in our society. Since making those comments 15 years ago, I have learned about inequalities of power and how violent language perpetuates them. I continue to strive to be a better man and work where I can to confront misogyny, which is why I’m so proud to sit on the Women and Equalities Select Committee. I will continue to engage with, and crucially learn from, feminist and other equalities groups so as an MP I can do whatever I can to tackle misogyny.”
From Jared regarding today. pic.twitter.com/LSnwzr9MeX
— Jared O’Mara Office (@jomarampoffice) October 23, 2017
THEGAYUK.com reached out to O’Mara for clarification on his homophobic messages.
MP Stephen Doughty, the co-chair of the LGBT PLP said,
“The comments are obviously totally unacceptable. As one of the Co-Chairs of the LGBT PLP, I raised my deep concerns directly in person with Jared this after and have received a frank apology”.
My response as Co-Chair of LGBT PLP on reports today of comments alleged to have been made by Jared O’Mara @LGBTLabour : pic.twitter.com/BSSsxRgRAC
— Stephen Doughty (@SDoughtyMP) October 23, 2017
While I condemn his words they were 15 years ago and people change. I’m sure in my past I have said stuff before I came out but now work hard on equality. Get him out into the different communities around Sheffield where he is an MP, show him what work is being done and how he can make a difference.
That’s a face for radio! He seems to be fixsatid on tacking up the ass but looking at his face again i think he’s been done to menny times
For someone like him to make these comments is vile. He might have health issues but he got elected despite those issues. As for being ginger, well I think they are hot. Just ask my bf who is also a ginger. Living in Scotland I see so many gingers, I’ve always thought they are sexy.
That’s rich seeing as he’s ginger?! I should add lol so that I’m not accused of being anti ginger – was just thinking he should know what it’s like to be on the receiving end
I think he might be in the closet.
And this is the man who replaced Nick Clegg? Disgusting!!
I refuse to let people from this website make a mockery of true homophobia. Bringing up very innocent posts on the internet from over 15 years ago is not what gay liberation is about. We are not big brother. The real enemy are those that are currently trying to destrot our brothers and sisters in Saudi Arabia, Russia, chechnya and everywhere else in the world.
Homophobia should not be reduced to a few priveleged journalists being offended by a left-wing politician. Let’s call out real injustice, and those that live with the real threat of murder or imprisonment every day.
Shame on you for making a mockery of them.
They actually aren’t that bad – none of them condemn gay people – in fact I think they are pretty funny. Think a mountain is being made out of a molehill here, when people are getting imprisoned for touching another man’s hips in Saudi Arabia.
Homophobia is stuff like: gays shouldn’t be able to marry, gays are incapable of adoption, gay relationships are inferior.
Hes not saying anything like this at all, just some words that people get offended by without even thinking about it.