LGBT+_Conservatives

LGBT+ Conservatives

LGBT+ Conservatives

LGBT+ wing of the British Conservative Party

This article is about the LGBT wing of the British Conservative Party. For the conservative socio-political movement, see LGBT conservatism.

LGBT+ Conservatives is an organisation for LGBT conservatism in the United Kingdom.[1] It is affiliated and is the official LGBT wing of the Conservative Party. The current advocacy group can trace its roots back to the Conservative Group for Homosexual Equality which was later renamed the Tory Campaign for Homosexual Equality. The group was eventually disbanded and the new LGBTory group was formed, changing its name in 2016[2] to LGBT+ Conservatives.

Quick Facts Chairman, Founded ...

The group campaigns for LGBT rights alongside the main political beliefs and policies of the Conservative Party, which it promotes within the Party, LGBT community, and wider public. Besides this LGBT+ Conservatives campaigns for LGBT candidates,[3][4][5] including through its Candidates' Fund[6] and attends Pride events across the country.[7][8][9] It also organises events related to LGBT rights[10][11] including an annual event with Stonewall at Conservative Party Conference.[12][13] Since its early formation, the organisation has had an impact nationally, within Europe and globally becoming the model and inspiration for LGBTory and alike groups in Australia and Canada.[14][15]

Activity

LGBT+ Conservative members at Pride London
The LGBT+ Conservatives' after a hustings event with Susan Hall AM, Emma Best AM and Mozammel Hossain KC.

LGBT+ Conservatives has been present at social meet ups, meals and drinks and Pride events across the country.[16] LGBT+ Conservatives host many fundraising events across the UK, and Parliamentary receptions in The Palace of Westminster for members of both the House of Lords and House of Commons.

2010s

In 2016, LGBT+ Conservatives' officers also represented the organisation at the then-Prime Minister Theresa May's LGBT Downing Street garden reception.[17] After the 2017 general election, the group's then-chair Matthew Green was critical of the Democratic Unionist Party, describing the DUP's record on LGBT issues as "appalling".[18] This followed May's announcement that she intended to form a minority government with the DUP. As a result of the hung Parliament arising from the election, May's Conservatives did not have an overall majority, so were reliant on DUP support to govern. The Conservative-DUP agreement was finalised several weeks later, and lasted until Parliament was dissolved in November 2019.

In 2018, the official LGBT+ Conservative account posted a tweet denouncing the views of Conservative MP David Davies on trans people. It later apologised for the tone of the tweet.[19]

2020s

In 2021, the Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson's wife Carrie Johnson spoke at the group's yearly Pride Reception in a rare public intervention.[20] Described by Chairwoman Elena Bunbury as a "longstanding ally"[21] and "a good sport to LGBT+ Conservatives",[22] Mrs Johnson's speech was widely reported in both UK and international press. This was the first intervention at a party conference by the spouse of a Prime Minister since Gordon Brown's wife Sarah Brown spoke at the Labour party conference.[23] Mrs Johnson told a 100-strong audience including the Prime Minister Boris, his sister Rachel Johnson, his father Stanley Johnson and the Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, that the Prime Minister was committed to LGBT rights.[24]

In 2023, the group celebrated ten years since the passing of the Conservative Party's Same-Sex Marriage Act, by hosting a drinks reception[25] with former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron who has cited it several times as one of his proudest achievements in office.[26][27][28] The event was also attended by Baroness Stowell, who was the Leader of the House of Lords at the time and responsible for seeing the Same-Sex Marriage Act's passage through the House of Lords.[29] Famed for opening the debate with a joke about her love for George Clooney,[30] Baroness Stowell is cited by many within the LGBT+ Conservatives as a key force behind getting the bill through the House of Lords.

In 2023, the group partnered with a UK media company, Tiny White Fox,[31] to develop a new weekly podcast on LGBT+ current affairs called Never Kissed A Tory hosted by Joe Wilmot, Albie Amankona and Luke Robert Black.[32] The podcast also hosts Conservative MPs, AMs and Peers, including Emma Best AM, Andrew Boff AM, Maria Caulfield MP, Susan Hall AM and Alicia Kearns MP.

In December 2023, the group hosted its first ever reception at 10 Downing Street in which the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attended and met with its members.[33] In the reception, the organisation celebrated the success of its joint campaign with the Terrence Higgins Trust to expand HIV Opt-Out testing[34] in English A&Es, which was announced the previous month by the Conservative Health Secretary Victoria Atkins at a parliamentary reception with Sir Elton John.[35]

Fund

LGBT+ Conservatives group disburse campaign funds in support of LGBT+ candidates.[36]

Chairmanship

  • 2007–2008: Anastasia Beaumont–Bott[37]
  • 2008–2009: Edward Butler–Ellis
  • 2009–2013: Matthew Sephton[38]
  • 2013–2017: Colm Howard–Lloyd[39]
  • 2017–2018: Matthew Green[40] - Resigned 14 May 2018[41]
  • 2018–2019: John Cope [41]
  • 2019–2020: Colm Howard-Lloyd[42]
  • 2020–2023: Elena Bunbury[43]
  • 2023-present: Luke Robert Black[44]

Patrons

LGBT+ Conservatives patrons in the House of Commons:[45]

LGBT+ Conservatives patrons in the House of Lords:[46]

LGBT+ Conservatives patrons in Holyrood:[47]

LGBT+ Conservatives patrons in the London Assembly:[48]

LGBT+ Conservatives patrons who are regional metro mayors:[49]

Awards

The LGBT+ Conservatives started giving out awards to UK parliamentarians and LGBT+ Conservatives' Executive and council members in 2022.

Prospective candidates for an award are shortlisted by the LGBT+ Conservatives' Executive. Once shortlisted, the members of the LGBT+ Conservatives vote for their preferred winner.[50]

Traditionally, the Awards are announced at the Pride Reception, which the LGBT+ Conservatives has held jointly with the UK LGBT charity Stonewall at Conservative Party Conference.

More information Year, Patron of the Year ...

See also

References

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    "About Us". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
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    "The 'T' in LGBTory represents Trans AND Tory". Policies. LGBTory. 15 May 2016. Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017. LGBTory was founded in 2015 by a group of Toronto Conservatives who wanted to be a presence at the Toronto Pride parade... When casting about for a name for our new group, we found a similar organization in the UK called LGBTory.
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    "Baroness Stowell introduces Equal Marriage Bill to the Lords". The LGBT+ Conservatives. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
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    "Chairman's speech at 10 Downing Street, 18th December 2023". LGBT+ Conservatives. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
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    "Prime Minister hails 'highly successful' opt-out HIV testing". Terrence Higgins Trust. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  35. [35]
    "ELTON JOHN WELCOMES UK'S EXPANSION OF OPT-OUT HIV TESTING". Elton John AIDS Foundation. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
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    "Yorkshire Tory wrongly described as 'openly gay' after mistaken application to LGBT+ fund". The Yorkshire Post. 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  37. [37]
    Blackhurst, Rob (1 August 2008). "A Rhapsody in Blue". Financial Times. Retrieved 22 February 2015.[permanent dead link]
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    "LGBT+ Conservatives on Twitter: "Congratulations and thanks to everyone that took part in our elections. Your team for 2020/21 are: Chair - @elena_bunbury Deputy Chair - @john_cope Hon Treasurer - @seananstee VC Membership - @mcdooglies VC Outreach - @JoePorterUK VC Candidates' Fund - Scott Seaman-Digby"". Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
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    "Press Release: Albie Amankona wins the LGBT+ Conservatives 'Council Member of the Year 2023'". Twitter. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
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