Dear LGBT Community,

We want to take this chance to clarify our position. We know that some of our ideas may be twisted by deceptive people trying to convince you that we hold hatred in our heart for you. Let me be clear – we don’t.

We will always judge people by their actions, not by who they love. The only sexual preference we judge is the one that involves children. You know that such people exist. Disgustingly, many of you have even been accused of such things simply because you love someone of your own gender. We are not that ignorant. IWe know there is a clear distinction between those two preferences. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.

For adults? Love who you love. Marry who you marry. We wish you every success on your path. No government should have the power to dictate who you love. No consensual relationship between adults should ever be politicised. You know that, and we know that. Our only concern is protecting those who cannot protect themselves, namely children, and we will take the harshest action against anyone who dares sexualise a child - as we are certain the vast, vast majority of you would want us to.

We know we will be asked to explain and defend our position on transgender issues, so let us be clear: if you are an adult, you should be free to do as you wish with your body. No law should prevent you from accessing surgery or medication that you believe is right for you. Personal autonomy is a fundamental right.

That said, we do take issue with the way certain equality protections have been extended. There is a difference between someone who has struggled, suffered, and gone through the long and difficult process of transitioning, and someone who merely “proposes” that they intend to change their gender. Do you really expect us to treat them as the same? Would you even want us to? We believe that making no distinction between the two is a slap in the face to those who have genuinely transitioned.

Furthermore, we do not believe these same freedoms should apply to children. We, as adults, have a responsibility to protect them. Though some may wish to undergo medical procedures or take life-altering drugs, it is our duty to ensure they wait until they are old enough to make a fully informed decision. That is the simple reality, and we will not pretend otherwise. You deserve honesty just as much as anyone else, even if it’s an honesty you may wish were different.

That’s it. We can’t predict the future. We would hope that many of you reading this won’t fall for the cheap games of the media and be turned against us. Wanting a fair and transparent government that protects children is something that is wanted by us every decent human being, sexuality doesn’t even come into it. Please, don’t allow them to persuade you that it does. To keep us divided is their only hope against the public holding them to account. Don’t let them get off with it so easy.