First openly trans MP accuses government of ‘breaking promise’ to LGBT people
ban on conversion therapy.Jamie Wallis, Conservative MP for Bridgend, came out in defence of trans rights this week, accusing Boris Johnson of ‘breaking his promise’ to LGBT+ people.The Welsh Backbencher was praised for his bravery last week after he revealed he is trans in a highly personal statement on Twitter.
Following theTory U-turn on the conversion therapy ban, he said it is ‘wrong to exclude protections for a whole group of people’ from an ‘abhorrent’ practice.‘I hope the announcement that a separate piece of work will now be done on this issue will be done at speed,’ Mr Wallis added.‘If the CT (conversion therapy) ban passes through Parliament without any protections for the transgender community, it cannot be described as anything other than a broken promise.’His comments come as more than 100 charities, including Stonewall, plan to boycott the government’s first global LGBT+ conference over its stance on conversion therapy.It is now unclear if the ‘Safe To Be Me: Global Equality Conference’ in London will go ahead after the LGBT+ and HIV charities, along with major sponsors, pulled out just three months before the event.A government spokesperson said it was ‘disappointing’ to see partners quit the conference, which was set to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first ever London Pride march.They added officials are still ‘considering how to proceed’.In a statement on Twitter yesterday, Stonewall said it will only participate if the prime minister reverts to his promise for a trans-inclusive ban on conversion therapy.‘This is a decision we take with a heavy heart,’ it said.
