LGBT football fans should not have to compromise on expressing their sexuality if they travel to the World Cup in Qatar, a Government minister insisted on Thursday.
Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi said he will still consider going to the tournament despite gay rights violations because "different countries are on different journeys".
It follows Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Wednesday urging LGBT fans to show "a little bit of flex and compromise" and to "respect the culture of your host nation" when questioned about human rights abuses in the Gulf state.
Mr Zahawi told LBC: "You should not compromise on your identity or your sexuality or your sexual preference in any way.
"Of course you are safe to go to the World Cup. No one should have to compromise at all in my view.
"I am very proud of what we have done in the UK. We use every opportunity when we engage with the Qatari government to share with them how we do things here.
"They have had a different historical journey but football is a celebration of diversity."
Human rights in Qatar are coming into sharp focus during the build up to the World Cup.
Same-sex relationships are illegal in the country, and punishable with fines, imprisonment, and in some cases, death.
Human Rights Watch has said security forces in Qatar arbitrarily arrested and abused LGBT Qataris.
A Qatari official denied the accusation and said they were "categorically and unequivocally false".
