LGBT+ Conservatives

LGBT+ Conservatives
Full name LGBT+ Conservatives
Chairman John Cope
Founded 2006
Preceded by
Headquarters Conservative Campaign HQ
4 Matthew Parker Street, London, SW1H 9HQ, England
Ideology LGBT conservatism
National affiliation Conservative Party
Slogan "The LGBT+ Conservative Group"
Website
lgbtconservatives.org.uk

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 the current format.

The group campaigns within and beyond the party for LGBT rights alongside the main political beliefs and policies of the Conservative Party, which it promotes within and outside the LGBT community. 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 a positive impact nationally, within Europe and globally becoming the model and inspiration for LGBTory in Canada.[14]

Activity

LGBT+ Conservative members at Pride London

LGBT+ Conservatives has been present at social meet ups, meals and drinks and Pride events across the country.[15] LGBT+ Conservatives hosts many fundraising events across the UK, Parliamentary receptions in The Palace of Westminster for members of both the House of Lords and House of Commons. LGBT+ Conservatives' officers also represented the organisation at the Prime Minister's LGBT Downing Street garden reception.

After the 2017 General Election, the group's chair was critical of the Democratic Unionist Party, describing the DUP's record on LGBT issues as "appalling".[16]

In January 2018, the official LGBT+ Conservative account tweeted denouncing the views of Conservative MP David Davies on trans people. It later apologised for the tone of the tweet.[17]

Chairmanship

  • 2007–2008: Anastasia Beaumont–Bott[18]
  • 2008–2009: Edward Butler–Ellis
  • 2009–2013: Matthew Sephton[19]
  • 2013–2017: Colm Howard–Lloyd
  • 2017–2018: Cllr Matthew Green
  • 2018–present: John Cope[20]

Patrons

LGBT+ Conservatives patrons:[21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About Us". LGBT+ Conservatives.
  2. ↑ "LGBTory - Proposed change of name". LGBT+ Conservatives.
  3. ↑ "Campaign Day for Stuart Andrew". LGBT+ Conservatives.
  4. ↑ "Campaigning for Mike Freer MP in Finchley". LGBT+ Conservatives.
  5. ↑ "LGBTory Autumn Newsletter 2014" (PDF). LGBTory.
  6. ↑ "LGBTory launches Candidates' Fund". LGBT+ Conservatives. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  7. ↑ Blackhurst, Rob (1 August 2008). "A Rhapsody in Blue". Financial Times. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "LGBTory at Pride in London". LGBT+ Conservatives.
  9. ↑ "Reading Pride". LGBT+ Conservatives.
  10. ↑ "Conservative responses to the persecution of LGBTI people around the World". LGBT+ Conservatives.
  11. ↑ "What should the next government's agenda for international LGBT rights be?". LGBT+ Conservatives.
  12. ↑ "What Matters to LGBT Voters". LGBTory.
  13. ↑ "Conservative Party Conference Fringe Meeting". LGBTory.
  14. ↑ "The 'T' in LGBTory represents Trans AND Tory". Policies. LGBTory. May 15, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 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. ↑ "Conservative gay group launched at Manchester Pride". Pink News. 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  16. ↑ "Conservative LGBT activists raise fears over DUP's 'appalling' record on gay rights". The Independent. 10 June 2017.
  17. ↑ "Tory LGBT group sorry over tweet to David Davies". BBC News. 29 January 2018.
  18. ↑ Blackhurst, Rob (1 August 2008). "A Rhapsody in Blue". Financial Times. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  19. ↑ Roberts, Scott (27 January 2014). "LGBTory Chairman Matthew Sephton steps down from post". Pink News. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  20. ↑ "John Cope". LGBT+ Conservatives. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  21. ↑ "LGBTory Patrons". LGBT+ Conservatives. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
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