Group's 'homophobic' banner slammed

The break-away New Fathers 4 Justice group held their first protest march in a quiet residential street in Bristol, outside the constituency office for Health Minister Dawn Primarolo.

Last week F4J was closed down by its founder Matt O'Connor, but days later, the New F4J was set up by Nigel Ace and Mark Harris, who made a rooftop protest on the house of Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman in June.

But their first stunt under "new management" has attracted criticism for being homophobic.

Dressed in their usual superhero attire, the members shouted slogans and played a loud siren while carrying a 10 foot banner which read "Kids need real Dads not Dawn's Lesbo Dads".

Unfortunately for the 10-strong group, Mrs Primarolo had left her office in Chessel Street 20 minutes earlier.

They claim Mrs Primarolo's backing for the Human Embryology and IVF bill signalled a dismissal of the need for a male role model in a family by making it easier for single females or lesbian couples to use sperm donors.

The disturbance attracted residents out of their houses, several of which angrily confronted the group. One man, who did not want to be named, questioned the F4J's attitude and revealed he had been a sperm donor for two lesbian friends whose baby was born six months ago.

He said: "I came out to confront them because of what I saw as blatant homophobia. I don't think they have intentionally come out to rile against homosexual rights or feminism but they are not doing themselves any favours.

"The core of what they want is equality and that is what feminism and homosexual rights is about."