Matt Crossick Matt Crossick

SUSAN CALMAN HAD to take to social media to address Strictly Come Dancing viewers that have been ‘haranguing’ her over her decision to dance with a man on the TV show.

Last time we checked, you don’t have to marry or fornicate with your partner on Strictly Come Dancing. It’s just a TV show. She’s just there to dance.

Sure it’d be nice to see same-sex couples dance, but this isn’t Love Island. They’re not being paired up for romance. They’re only there to dance and if she wants to dance with a man, let her dance with a man.

She addressed those who were unhappy with her decision on Facebook.

She wrote:

My Strictly journey starts tonight. I’m loving it. I also monitor my own page, so:1. If you disagree with me dancing with a man that’s fine. That’s your opinion. But I have argued about this for weeks and I’m getting sick of it. It’s my choice, I’m happy, please feel free to chat amongst yourselves but don’t harangue me on here.

She continued:

I’m a gay woman on the biggest show on TV and my wife will be sitting in the front row on the live shows. I think that’s pretty cool I’ve been an LGBT advocate for years, this doesn’t change my desire to fight for equality. I wanted to dance with a man. Please accept my ability to make my own decisions.

There have been a heap of gay male contestants and there has never, ever been any outrage over them being partnered up with women.

She spoke to BBC yesterday about the work that she has done for the LGBTQ community and the criticism that she has faced despite that:

I have protested, I have picketed, I have fought, I have been spat on, I have been punched – and I want to dance.

I think what annoyed me slightly is that I seem to be getting it in the neck. Will Young didn’t get it. Judge Rinder didn’t get it. Richard Coles isn’t getting it. It seems to me as a woman, he’s not getting it the same way I am.

It’s unfair, upsetting and it’s ignoring the impact I will have in the biggest show on television. A lot of people are very supportive of my decision, but it’s making this about my sexuality instead of a woman wanting to learn how to dance.

Susan said it once more on Twitter, for the people in the back.

Susan Calman / Twitter Susan Calman / Twitter / Twitter

A spokesperson for Strictly said they have no plans to introduce same-sex couples to the competition. Now that’s probably more problematic than one individual choosing to dance with the opposite sex. The choice should be there for those who want to opt for it.

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