A FORMER director of TV at RTE has slammed the state broadcaster for being ‘anti-gay’.

Helen O’Rahilly made the claims on her Twitter page after Health Minister Leo Varadkar came out as gay.

The London-based TV executive worked for RTE, before moving to work for the BBC.

She said: “The list of RTE homophobes would give you chills…all happy to be such in 2000 not now in 2015”

“Some very decent people at RTE so not taking a pop at all at top levels. Some oblivious to what went on...

“But the RTE view of gay men and women was appalling. Even in 2000. Despite many gay men and women working for them at every level.

“Once they found out I was a big Gayer, RTE wasn’t that happy about having me on screen or on public forums ….”

She added:

“I am sick to death of RTE now being the benign channel of acceptance of homosexuality when it was a bastion of creaking, ancient codes...

“…that lined up with conservative catholic teaching and disallowed any movement from the same narrow channel...”

An RTE spokesperson said the station would not be commenting on the claims.

Online Editors