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What is the new Cabinet’s views on LGBTQ issues?

Liz Truss’ new cabinet has, for the most part, voted against LGBTQ+ rights (Picture: Rex /Reuters/Getty
Liz Truss’ new cabinet has, for the most part, voted against LGBTQ+ rights (Picture: Rex /Reuters/Getty

New prime minister Liz Truss has crammed her cabinet with her closest allies — but where do they stand on LGBTQ+ rights?

Truss rewarded her most loyal supporters while those who backed her leadership opponent, Rishi Sunak, were largely left empty-handed.

In a race for Downing Street marked by its diversity, Truss tapped the three top cabinet posts to three MPs of colour.

Yet not a single cabinet member is LGBTQ+ (and there hasn’t been since 2019).

Considering the previous government has whipped up countless ‘culture wars’ over LGBTQ+ rights, the leanings of Truss’ cabinet may hint at how the next few years will shape up for LGBTQ+ Brits.

‘Over the last seven years the UK has slipped from its position as a global leader on LGBTQ+ rights,’ Stonewall communications director Robbie de Santos told Metro.co.uk.

‘But Liz Truss’ new cabinet now has the opportunity to get the country back on track.’

Here are the some of the top Cabinet member’s histories on LGBTQ+ rights.

Thérèse Coffey

Britain's Deputy prime minister and health secretary Therese Coffey arrives in Downing Street in London, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022 for the first cabinet meeting since Liz Truss was installed as British Prime Minister a day earlier. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
ThĂ©rèse Coffey’s appointment has sparked concern among sexual health experts amid the monkeypox outbreak (Picture: AP)

Thérèse Coffey, who served as work and pensions secretary under Boris Johnson, was named deputy prime minister and health and social care secretary.

A rigid social conservative, Coffey was one of 136 Tories who voted against same-sex marriage before joining a gaggle of MPs who called on the House of Lords to block the bill.

In 2020, Coffey made it clear that her opinion on same-sex marriage hasn’t budged, telling Sky News: ‘I took the view at the time, and I still hold to that.’

‘It is worrying that the new health secretary has a voting record that perpetuated inequality,’ Matthew Hodson, executive director of NAM aidsmap, said.

‘The current outbreak of monkeypox in the UK, which remains almost exclusively confined to gay and bisexual men, demonstrates the importance of ensuring that health services are both sensitive and responsive to the needs of LGBTQ+ people.’

‘The government response to date has been desperately lacking,’ added Ceri Smith, policy head at sexual health charity the Terrence Higgins Trust. ‘It’s now or never.’

Kwasi Kwarteng

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock (13366153f) Kwasi Kwarteng, Conservative MP for Spelthorne in northern Surrey New UK Prime Minister announcement, Westminster, London, UK - 05 Sep 2022
Kwasi Kwarteng, now the UK’s top finance official, has voted against same-sex marriage (Picture: Shutterstock)

Kwasi Kwarteng will now hold the purse strings in Number 11 as chancellor of the Exchequer.

The former business secretary twice voted against marriage equality and has been absent on all other LGBTQ+ votes since.

When his Spelthorne constituent begged him to vote in favour of same-sex marriage in 2013, he said: ‘I don’t believe that this is a change which has been driven by the gay lobby; nor do I think it substantially changes the rights enjoyed by homosexual couples under civil partnership legislation.’

James Cleverly

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly walks outside Number 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain September 7, 2022. REUTERS/Phil Noble
James Cleverly will lead the UK’s foreign policy and relations (Picture: Reuters)

Former education secretary James Cleverly, another keen Truss ally, was appointed foreign secretary.

Though Cleverly has never voted on any LGBTQ+ legislation in parliament, his remarks over the years hint he’s an ally.

As recently as 2019 he supported LGBTQ+ servicepeople in the British Armed Forces, while as far back as 2005 he said he supported marriage equality in a blog post.

Suella Braverman

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock (13371243f) Secretary of State for the Home Department SUELLA BRAVERMAN is seen arriving in Downing Street for the first cabinet meeting in Liz Truss government. Liz Truss cabinet meet for the first time, London, England, United Kingdom - 07 Sep 2022
The former attorney general’s brief leadership bid saw her attack trans rights at every turn (Picture: Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

As inflation, a recession, labour unrest, skyrocketing household bills and possible fuel shortages loomed, then attorney general Suella Braverman launched her bid for Tory leader by lambasting ‘woke rubbish’.

The new home secretary has called on schools to no longer teach ‘keywords’ about LGBTQ+ people and misgender trans pupils as well as force them to use a ‘third’ bathroom.

Braverman has been adamant about barrelling ahead with the previous administration’s ‘cruel’ plan to offshore asylum seekers to Rwanda, said Leila Zadeh, an executive director for LGBTQ+ refugee group Rainbow Migration.

‘This cruel scheme means that LGBTQ+ people fleeing violence and torture in their countries of origin will be punished for attempting to rebuild their lives in the UK and instead sent to a country where they will be in danger,’ she argued.

Kit Malthouse

Britain's Education Secretary Kit Malthouse arrives at 10 Downing Street in central London on September 7, 2022, ahead of a meeting of the Government's newly appointed Cabinet. - Britain's newly appointed Prime Minister Liz Truss unveiled her new top team as she formally took over from Boris Johnson, with no place for white men in any of the three senior-most cabinet posts for the first time ever. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Kit Malthouse is one of the few high-ranking cabinet ministers who voted for marriage equality (Picture: AFP)

Kit Malthouse has become the fifth education secretary to hold the post in the space of 12 months.

Previous education secretaries have see-sawed when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, such as introducing mandatory inclusive sex and relationship education and axing LGBTQ+ bullying projects the next.

Malthouse hasn’t made many public remarks about LGBTQ+ rights, but he did vote for marriage equality in Northern Ireland and said if he had the chance he would done the same in 2013’s vote for Britain.

Nadhim Zahawi

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Chancellor of the Exchequer and Conservative Party leadership candidate, Nadhim Zahawi, waits to speak at a Conservative Way Forward relaunch event on July 11, 2022 in London, England. Conservative Way Forward (CWF) is a campaigning group, which is Thatcherite in its outlook and agenda. Founded by Margaret Thatcher, Steve Baker MP is the current Chair. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
Nadhim Zahawi hinted at a return to Section 28 if he became prime minister (Picture: Getty Images Europe)

Alongside being chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Nadhim Zahawi also holds a very important role for LGBTQ+ rights — minister for equalities.

Zahawi, as then education secretary, suggested teachers should out trans kids. His leadership bid was no different, as he said children should be ‘protected from damaging and inappropriate nonsense’.

‘The minister for equalities is responsible for ensuring that the UK improves the quality of life of all marginalised people; instead, Zahawi’s comments have rightly drawn comparisons with Section 28,’ said trans rights charity Gendered Intelligence.

Michelle Donelan

Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan walks outside Number 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain September 7, 2022. REUTERS/John Sibley
Culture secretary Michelle Donelan (Picture: Reuters)

Michelle Donelan is now culture secretary, a role that will see her have sway over issues such as trans women’s participation in sports, something her predecessor Nadine Dorries was keen to put a stop to.

Donelan voted against marriage equality in Britain and in Northern Ireland.

During her time as higher and further education minister, the devout Christian pushed the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech Bill) that activists warn could force universities to platform homophobes.

Among those Donelan has defended their right to free speech is Kathleen Stock, a former University of Sussex professor who resigned following student-led backlash to her anti-trans views.

Jacob Rees-Mogg

epa10165604 Jacob Rees-Mogg who was appointed Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, leaves Downing Street, London, Britain, 06 September 2022. New Prime Minister Liz Truss is in the process of building a new Cabinet. EPA/NEIL HALL
The new business secretary has backed both Brexit and the right for hate preachers to tour Britain (Picture: EPA)

Jacob Rees-Mogg has slowly climbed up the Cabinet from Brexit minister to business secretary.

The Etonian said that his Catholic faith is what has compelled him over the years to snub marriage equality for Britain, Northern Ireland and for queer service personnel outside of the UK.

When Franklin Graham, a preacher who thinks ‘sinful’ gay people ‘take other people’s children’, saw UK venues cancel his planned tour in 2020, Rees-Mogg blamed Graham’s critics for their ‘intolerance’.

Kemi Badenoch

epa10165611 Kemi Badenoch who has been appointed as International Trade Secretary and President of the Board of Trade, leaves Downing Street, London, Britain, 06 September 2022. New Prime Minister Liz Truss is in the process of building a new Cabinet. EPA/NEIL HALL
Kemi Badenoch met with anti-trans and ‘ex-gay’ groups during her time in the equalities office (Picture: EPA)

Kemi Badenoch, a rising star of the Conservative Party known for her outspoken contempt for all things ‘woke’, has become international trade secretary.

During her time in the Government Equalities Office, Badenoch held a secret meeting with the LGB Alliance (widely seen by LGBTQ+ groups as anti-trans) as well as with leaders of a so-called ‘ex-gay’ group

She described trans women as ‘men using women’s bathrooms’ in leaked audio and has criticised gender-neutral toilets.

‘For years now the Tory party have used trans issues as a political football to distract from scandals and poor governance, but it’s clear (as evidenced by recent YouGov data) that it’s not going to win hearts, minds, or votes,’ added Gendered Intelligence.

‘It’s hard to see how the new prime minister will be able to rebuild relationships with the LGBTQ+ community unless she — and her cabinet — can show serious commitment.’

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