gldstwmn
10-06-2005, 12:43 PM
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/10/06/potter.gay.reut/index.html
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- A British cleric turned top-selling author of supernatural children's novels was thrown out of a school where he was delivering a talk after he told pupils that Harry Potter was "gay."
Reverend Graham Taylor, who penned the novel "Shadowmancer" which, like the tales of the famous boy wizard created by J.K. Rowling, centers on witchcraft and battling evil, got his marching orders after teachers accused him of homophobia.
"As for Harry Potter, well, he's not the only gay in the village," the former Anglican priest told children at Penair School in Truro, southwest England, referring to a catchphrase from the popular British comedy TV show "Little Britain."
He also described the villains in Rowling's blockbuster series as "wimps" and called TV "crap" compared to books.
Teachers brought Taylor's talk to the 12-year-olds on Tuesday to a premature end, saying the youngsters had become "excitable," and asked him to leave.
"We were very disappointed to have to curtail a visit from Mr Taylor," the school said in a statement on Thursday.
"The seven staff from the school who were present were very embarrassed and uncomfortable with what was being said.
"The remarks that were made were thought by the staff to be offensive and were well below the standards that we expect of responsible and thoughtful adults working in our school."
Taylor, whose book topped the UK book charts for 15 weeks with the film rights also sold for £2.25 million ($4 million), was unrepentant and accused staff of censorship.
"It was a joke; a joke from 'Little Britain' that the children would know," Taylor was quoted by newspapers as saying.
"I didn't set out to offend. I'm a priest and I'm very careful about not offending people."
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- A British cleric turned top-selling author of supernatural children's novels was thrown out of a school where he was delivering a talk after he told pupils that Harry Potter was "gay."
Reverend Graham Taylor, who penned the novel "Shadowmancer" which, like the tales of the famous boy wizard created by J.K. Rowling, centers on witchcraft and battling evil, got his marching orders after teachers accused him of homophobia.
"As for Harry Potter, well, he's not the only gay in the village," the former Anglican priest told children at Penair School in Truro, southwest England, referring to a catchphrase from the popular British comedy TV show "Little Britain."
He also described the villains in Rowling's blockbuster series as "wimps" and called TV "crap" compared to books.
Teachers brought Taylor's talk to the 12-year-olds on Tuesday to a premature end, saying the youngsters had become "excitable," and asked him to leave.
"We were very disappointed to have to curtail a visit from Mr Taylor," the school said in a statement on Thursday.
"The seven staff from the school who were present were very embarrassed and uncomfortable with what was being said.
"The remarks that were made were thought by the staff to be offensive and were well below the standards that we expect of responsible and thoughtful adults working in our school."
Taylor, whose book topped the UK book charts for 15 weeks with the film rights also sold for £2.25 million ($4 million), was unrepentant and accused staff of censorship.
"It was a joke; a joke from 'Little Britain' that the children would know," Taylor was quoted by newspapers as saying.
"I didn't set out to offend. I'm a priest and I'm very careful about not offending people."