Wikipedia

LGBT+ Conservatives

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 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.

LGBT+ Conservatives
ChairmanLuke Robert Black
Founded2006
Preceded by
HeadquartersConservative Campaign HQ
4 Matthew Parker Street, London, SW1H 9HQ, England
IdeologyLGBT conservatism
Economic liberalism
British unionism
PositionCentre-right
National affiliationConservative Party
Slogan"The LGBT Conservative Group"
Websitelgbtconservatives.org.uk

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

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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

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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

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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

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

Chairpersonship

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  • 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

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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

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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.

Year Patron of the Year Ally of the Year Council Member of the Year
2022 Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links[51] Penny Mordaunt MP[52] Luke Robert Black[53]
2023 Stuart Andrew MP[54] Penny Mordaunt MP[55] Albie Amankona[56]
2024 To be confirmed To be confirmed To be confirmed

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About Us". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  2. ^ "LGBTory - Proposed change of name". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Campaign Day for Stuart Andrew". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Campaigning for Mike Freer MP in Finchley". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  5. ^ "LGBTory Autumn Newsletter 2014" (PDF). LGBTory. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  6. ^ "LGBTory launches Candidates' Fund". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  7. ^ Blackhurst, Rob (1 August 2008). "A Rhapsody in Blue". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  8. ^ "LGBTory at Pride in London". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Reading Pride". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Conservative responses to the persecution of LGBTI people around the World". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  11. ^ "What should the next government's agenda for international LGBT rights be?". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  12. ^ "What Matters to LGBT Voters". LGBTory. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Conservative Party Conference Fringe Meeting". LGBTory. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ Pride, Liberal. "Liberal Pride". Liberal Pride. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Conservative gay group launched at Manchester Pride". PinkNews. 1 September 2009. Archived from the original on 11 January 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  17. ^ "Matthew Green: Our new Prime Minister will build a better Britain for LGBT people". Conservative Home. 24 July 2016. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  18. ^ "Conservative LGBT activists raise fears over DUP's 'appalling' record on gay rights". The Independent. 10 June 2017. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Tory LGBT group sorry over tweet to David Davies". BBC News. 29 January 2018. Archived from the original on 30 October 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  20. ^ "Carrie Johnson to give speech on LGBT+ rights at Conservative Party conference". The Independent. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  21. ^ "Carrie Johnson to give speech on LGBT+ rights at Conservative Party conference". The Independent. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Carrie Johnson to give speech on LGBT+ rights at Conservative Party conference". The Independent. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Carrie Johnson says Boris is looking at 'extending' gay rights". The Telegraph. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Carrie Johnson says Boris is looking at 'extending' gay rights". The Telegraph. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  25. ^ "David Cameron shines at gay marriage reception". The Spectator. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  26. ^ "Introducing gay marriage one of my proudest moments: former PM David Cameron". ITV News. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  27. ^ "Gay pride? Of course I have gay pride!". The Independent. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  28. ^ "Introducing gay marriage one of my 'proudest moments'". PinkNews. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Baroness Stowell introduces Equal Marriage Bill to the Lords". The LGBT+ Conservatives. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  30. ^ "Tory Baroness Stowell opens equal marriage debate with a joke about her love of George Clooney". PinkNews. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  31. ^ "White Tiny Fox, a UK-based media company". White Tiny Fox. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  32. ^ "The LGBT+ Conservatives announce their new podcast, Never Kissed a Tory". Twitter. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  33. ^ "Chairman's speech at 10 Downing Street, 18th December 2023". LGBT+ Conservatives. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  34. ^ "Prime Minister hails 'highly successful' opt-out HIV testing". Terrence Higgins Trust. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  35. ^ "ELTON JOHN WELCOMES UK'S EXPANSION OF OPT-OUT HIV TESTING". Elton John AIDS Foundation. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  36. ^ "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. ^ Blackhurst, Rob (1 August 2008). "A Rhapsody in Blue". Financial Times. Retrieved 22 February 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  38. ^ "LGBTory Chairman Matthew Sephton steps down from post". PinkNews. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  39. ^ "Colm Howard-Lloyd". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  40. ^ "Stonewall at the Conservative Party Conference". Stonewall. 23 August 2017. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  41. ^ a b "Appointment of an Interim Chairman". us5.campaign-archive.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  42. ^ "Meet Our New Chairman". Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  43. ^ "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.
  44. ^ "LGBT+ Conservatives Election 2023 Results". Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  45. ^ "LGBT+ Conservative Patrons". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  46. ^ "LGBT+ Conservative Patrons". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  47. ^ "LGBT+ Conservative Patrons". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  48. ^ "LGBT+ Conservative Patrons". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  49. ^ "LGBT+ Conservative Patrons". LGBT+ Conservatives. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  50. ^ "LGBT+ Conservatives Awards 2022". Twitter. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  51. ^ "LGBT+ Conservatives Awards 2022". Twitter. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  52. ^ "Penny Mordaunt MP announces her award on her official Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  53. ^ "LGBT+ Conservatives Awards 2022". Twitter. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  54. ^ "Press Release: the Rt. Hon. Stuart Andrew MP wins the LGBT+ Conservatives 'Patron of the Year 2023'". Twitter. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  55. ^ "Press Release: the Rt. Hon. Penny Mordaunt MP wins the LGBT+ Conservatives 'Ally of the Year 2023'". Twitter. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  56. ^ "Press Release: Albie Amankona wins the LGBT+ Conservatives 'Council Member of the Year 2023'". Twitter. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
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