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Passport official suspended amid claims she interrogated applicant over sexuality | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A passport official has been suspended amid an investigation into claims by an American-born British citizen that he was interrogated about his sexuality. | A passport official has been suspended amid an investigation into claims by an American-born British citizen that he was interrogated about his sexuality. |
Randall Cole, 44, a charity worker, who is married to a British man Stuart Wales, said he had been expecting a “straightforward interview” about his application for a UK passport. | Randall Cole, 44, a charity worker, who is married to a British man Stuart Wales, said he had been expecting a “straightforward interview” about his application for a UK passport. |
But he said the official’s questions about his adopted children, their relationship with their biological mother and whether he had had sex with a woman left him feeling “violated and dirty”. | But he said the official’s questions about his adopted children, their relationship with their biological mother and whether he had had sex with a woman left him feeling “violated and dirty”. |
“I told her I am here with my son Samuel and that he has an older brother but that my husband is looking after him – and when I used the term husband that's when you could see something immediately changed in her. She began to fixate on questions about my family,” Mr Cole told The Guardian. | “I told her I am here with my son Samuel and that he has an older brother but that my husband is looking after him – and when I used the term husband that's when you could see something immediately changed in her. She began to fixate on questions about my family,” Mr Cole told The Guardian. |
“She said: 'Is this your biological child?' And when I said no she said: 'Is it your partner's biological child?' And when I explained that we are family through adoption she said: 'Oh, so that's why you're able to have children.' | “She said: 'Is this your biological child?' And when I said no she said: 'Is it your partner's biological child?' And when I explained that we are family through adoption she said: 'Oh, so that's why you're able to have children.' |
"She then asked 'What do the children call their birth mother?' and 'What does the birth mother think about all of us?' and 'Aren't the children confused by it all?'" | "She then asked 'What do the children call their birth mother?' and 'What does the birth mother think about all of us?' and 'Aren't the children confused by it all?'" |
He said the official had asked him what he thought people “make of you when they see you walking down the street with your kids?” | He said the official had asked him what he thought people “make of you when they see you walking down the street with your kids?” |
Mr Cole also claimed she told him “Oh, so you’re like the housewife” when he said he worked part-time. | Mr Cole also claimed she told him “Oh, so you’re like the housewife” when he said he worked part-time. |
He tried to stop the line of questioning when she asked whether he had had sex with women in the past. | He tried to stop the line of questioning when she asked whether he had had sex with women in the past. |
“She became indignant and said: 'We can ask anything we want, regardless of whether or not it makes you feel uncomfortable,’” he said. | “She became indignant and said: 'We can ask anything we want, regardless of whether or not it makes you feel uncomfortable,’” he said. |
“But it was clear she was trying to humiliate me – a way to get me to say if I'd had sex with a woman. She said I could refuse to answer but my lack of response would be noted and then proceeded to try to get me to answer, through a variety of questions, whether I or Stuart had previously been sexually active heterosexually.” | “But it was clear she was trying to humiliate me – a way to get me to say if I'd had sex with a woman. She said I could refuse to answer but my lack of response would be noted and then proceeded to try to get me to answer, through a variety of questions, whether I or Stuart had previously been sexually active heterosexually.” |
Mr Cole, who has filed a written complaint, said he and his husband had moved to Britain from the US because of “the promise of a tolerant society”. | Mr Cole, who has filed a written complaint, said he and his husband had moved to Britain from the US because of “the promise of a tolerant society”. |
A Home Office spokesman said: "Intrusive questions about someone's sexuality as part of an interview would be inappropriate and is not a reflection of our policy. | A Home Office spokesman said: "Intrusive questions about someone's sexuality as part of an interview would be inappropriate and is not a reflection of our policy. |
"The member of staff in question has been suspended and a disciplinary investigation is now under way." | "The member of staff in question has been suspended and a disciplinary investigation is now under way." |
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