A TORY councillor was accused of asking homosexuals to ‘out themselves’ in public during a row over funding for the Inverclyde LGBT community.

Local authority leader Stephen McCabe launched an attack on Depute Provost David Wilson after he asked if anyone from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender group was present at the latest full council meeting.

A row had erupted during a debate about a motion proposed by Councillor McCabe asking the council to support International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia on May 17 and make a £500 donation to the local LGBT group.

But Mr Wilson described the cash call as an ‘unnecessary request’ and pointed out that councillors last year agreed to fly a flag on May 17 on an annual basis in a show of support, which he said was ‘plenty’.

During the debate, Mr Wilson asked: “Is there anybody here from the LGBT group who are asking for funding?”

The Tory councillor, the party’s candidate in the Renfrewshire North and West constituency at the Scottish Parliament elections, also asked if any elected members, council officials or members of the public were members of the gay community, which prompted an angry response from Labour’s Mr McCabe.

He said: “I have to say I’m appalled by Councillor Wilson’s behaviour in this debate, to publicly ask people in this meeting to out themselves.”

Mr Wilson strongly denied the claims saying, ‘I didn’t ask that’.

But Mr McCabe replied: “Yes you did. That’s absolutely appalling.”

The local authority leader then asked Provost Robert Moran to ‘get a grip’ of Mr Wilson during the debate.

As the meeting became unruly the Provost had to repeatedly tell elected members to calm down and stop ‘shouting and bawling’.

Councillor Wilson had called for the support motion to be rejected on the basis that the council already marks International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.

He said he was ‘not aware’ of Inverclyde having a problem with homophobia and asked the council’s head of education Wilma Bain, who previously chaired the equalities group, for her professional advice on the matter.

Mrs Bain said: “To my knowledge there has not been any serious concern with hate crime and homophobia and as far as I’m aware we have a very active LGBT group.

“It’s not a particular issue we should be concerned about.”

But Councillor McCabe dismissed Mr Wilson’s argument.

He said: “To think that there are no issues in Inverclyde and people living in Inverclyde are not affected by these issues is completely ill-informed.

“The £500 is to support the local group going through very difficult times in their lives.”

Mr McCabe highlighted how four out of Scotland’s six party leaders are gay, including Scottish Labour’s Kezia Dugdale, who last weekend announced she was in a relationship with another woman.

The Conservatives’ Ruth Davidson, Ukip’s David Coburn and the Greens’ Patrick Harvie are also openly lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Councillor McCabe said: “We have a far more tolerant society. I would hope we would all support this motion to help move forward the case of equality.”

Mr Wilson’s amendment eventually fell because of a lack of a seconder – and the motion of support was passed with approval from the rest of the councillors in attendance.