One of Britain’s leading universities is considering removing a window dedicated to Lord Carey, a former archbishop of Canterbury, from its façade because of his opposition to gay marriage.
The front of the main buildings of Kings College, London displays images and descriptions of notable alumni and Lord Carey’s window is adjacent to one dedicated to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who does support gay marriage.
But the head of the university’s LGBT Liberation Association, Ben Hunt, complained to Kings principal, Professor Ed Byrne. They reportedly discussed whether, as part of a planned redevelopment of the Strand campus, the pictures would be updated.
The student newspaper, Roar News published a story under the headline "Lord Carey ‘to be pulled from Strand windows’ after LGBT group win two-year anti-homophobia campaign". In it Mr Hunt was quoted as saying: “The Principal has asked me to compile a list of new alumni for the window in suggestions,” adding that a committee will be formed to decide on the new alumni.
The group had campaigned for Lord Carey’s picture to be removed since 2010, when he said gay relationships “should not be put on the same level” as heterosexual ones. Referring to gay marriage, he said: “Why does it feel to us that our cultural homeland and identity is being plundered?”
The picture has been defaced twice in recent years.
Mr Hunt asserted that changing the windows “will also mean the removal of Lord Carey and the inclusion of minorities in the discussions for new alumni”.
A university spokesperson told The Tablet that while there were currently no plans to remove any image, including Lord Carey’s, from the Strand windows, "our proposed redevelopment of the Strand campus is likely to require a review the display of our alumni. We will put this into practice once we know if our planning application to Westminster Council has been successful."
A spokesman told Roar previously: “It is likely, subject to planning approval, that the proposed redevelopment of the Strand campus will require a review of the Strand windows and we will consider the diverse views of our students, staff and alumni at the appropriate time.”
In 2010 the university rejected the bid to have Lord Carey’s picture removed. “[King’s] reject the notion of any censorship of ideas. Lord Carey’s views are his own and were offered as part of an open debate,” a spokesman said.
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