Gay people in Britain should vote to leave the European Union as LGBT rights are under threat in other European countries, Boris Johnson has said.
The London mayor said on Wednesday evening the UK had the "most progressive attitudes to LGBT issues anywhere in the world".
“I'm out, and I'm proud."”
- Boris Johnson
In a video message for an event organised by the 'Out and Proud' pro-Brexit LGBT campaign group, the Conservative mayor of London said: "Let me ask you a question, did those rights, those freedoms, that spirit come form the EU? Or did it come form people campaigning in our courts, our parliament?.
"It was us, the British people that created that environment of happiness and contentment for LGBT people and it is absolutely vital that we fight for those rights today because they are under threat in Poland, in Hungary, in Romania and other parts of the EU where they are not protected in the way they are in our country.
"What we need is to take back control LGBT issues and everything else."
Boris added: "Im out, and I'm proud."
Speaking at the same event in central-London, defence minister Penny Mordaunt said Britain's membership of the European Union is putting the security of the country at risk.
In the wake of the Brussels terror attacks, she said the UK was unable "share the intelligence we need to keep us safe" as a member of the EU.
Yesterday Boris was accused of exaggerating and misrepresenting the case for Brexit by the chairman of the Commons Treasury committee, as the two Tory MPs argued over teabags, balloons and coffins.