The gay community is calling for the resignation of councillor Brian Pidgeon from an equalities forum.

The call for the Brighton and Hove City councillor's resignation from the Equalities and Social Justice Forum, follows Coun Pidgeon's comments that a gay policing fact-finding trip to San Francisco by two Sussex officers was a "jolly good jolly".

Two police officers, Sergeant Mark Andrews and community liaison officer Lisa Timerick went to the gay capital of the United States on a six-week fact-finding mission in May.

The trip, paid for by a £5,000 bursary, allowed the officers to take part in a Pride march and learn how US police deal with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

The officers, based in Brighton, which is often dubbed Britain's gay capital, said the information would enhance relations between police and homosexuals.

Tory Coun Pidgeon, who serves Patcham, said: "With all the experience Sussex Police have in dealing with all communities in Brighton and Sussex, I fail to see why they are sending two police officers to America.

"I know it is funded by the Home Office so it's not coming out of rates but somebody has to pay and it is the taxpayers who are paying. Frankly, it is a jolly good jolly."

His comments prompted the gay community to call for Coun Pidgeon's resignation from the equalities forum. Gay representatives say his comments were inappropriate for a representative of a forum which is supposed to be made up of members who understand and represent minority groups.

David Harvey, co-owner of the city's gay magazine 3SIXTY, said: "He said Sussex Police should police the community whatever people's persuasion and there was no reason to treat people differently. That shows an appalling lack of understanding and knowledge of the community and questions his ability to take a place on an equalities forum."

He said Coun Pidgeon used the word "persuasion" in relation to gay people and said it was an outdated and unacceptable term and a member of an equalities forum should not be using it.

The trip by the two police officers was picked up by national newspapers, which the gay community said used the story to whip up anti-gay feeling fuelled by Coun Pidgeon's comments.

Mr Harvey said the trip was important and was not paid for by taxpayers.

Coun Pidgeon said he was not opposed to the gay and lesbian community but did not feel it was appropriate for two officers to spend seven weeks in San Francisco. He said he would not be resigning from the equalities forum.

He said: "My main concern is the disabled and the blind and OAPs. The gay and lesbian community can well speak for itself.

"I'm not against homosexuals at all but I do not see the point in going to San Francisco when Sussex Police do the job very well."