At a recent event, she addressed her poor voting record on LGBT+ rights, specifically, the Marriage (same-sex couples) Bill in 2013.
Speaking to PinkNews, she said, “My decision [to abstain on the 2013 Marriage (same-sex couples) Bill] related specifically to the legislation around registry offices and churches, and the way in which the Christian faith recognises marriage.
“I have always been clear that I believe the love of same-sex couples is just as important, and indeed equal, as the love of heterosexual couples.
“I would be very happy to see same-sex couples married in a church, but that is a matter for the Church of England.
“I am proud to live in a country that recognises equality for all.”
A study of 2000 Brits has revealed that the UK has a bit of a love affair with some very conservative politicians, including Thatcher, Trump, Putin and Palin.
By work provided by Chris Collins of the Margaret Thatcher Foundation – Margaret Thatcher Foundation, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5185418
The research conducted by CamRate, found that Brits found Margaret Thatcher to be the most popular female politician followed by Theresa May. The Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon was voted in third place, while Germany’s Angela Merkel came fourth. Angela Merkel is against same-sex marriage equality, having already outlined that she regards marriage as “marriage is the coexistence between a man and a woman”.
Margaret Thatcher, who died in 2013, led the Conservatives from 1979 to 1990 and was instrumental in enforcing Section 28 in schools.
Worryingly Brits seemed to love Republican Sarah Palin (9), whose stance on LGBT rights is horrifying. Former PM hopeful Andrea Leadsom, Priti Patel, and Nicky Morgan also appear in the top 20 all of whom have a less than perfect score when it comes to gay equality votes.
Brits also voted Vladamir Putin in 14th place ahead of Nick Clegg (15) and Tony Blair (16). Tony Blair’s government played a key part in the introduction of Civil Partnerships for gay people in 2004.
It wasn’t all bad news from an LGBT perspective when it came to nation’s favourite politicians, Barack Obama won the vote, with UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn taking second and third place.
CREDIT: By Michael Vadon [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsUS President-Elect Donald Trump came fourth, ahead of ex-UK Prime Minister David Cameron.
Here are the top 20 male politicians
1. Barack Obama
2. Boris Johnson
3. Jeremy Corbyn
4. Donald Trump
5. David Cameron
6. Sadiq Khan
7. Bernie Sanders
8. Bill Clinton
9. Gordon Brown
10. Alex Salmond
11. Andy Burnham
12. Ian Duncan Smith
13. Ed Miliband
14. Vladimir Putin
15. Nick Clegg
16. Tony Blair
17. Chuka Umunna
18. Mitt Romney
19. Paul Ryan
20. Zac Goldsmith And the top 20 female politicians.
1. Margaret Thatcher
2. Theresa May
3. Nicola Sturgeon
4. Angela Merkel
5. Caroline Lucas
6. Hilary Clinton
7. Ruth Davidson
8. Harriet Harman
9. Sarah Palin
10. Mhairi Black
11. Angela Eagle
12. Priti Patel
13. Andrea Leadsom
14. Diane Abbott
15. Justine Greening
16. Natalie Bennett
17. Theresa Villers
18. Nicky Morgan
19. Amber Rudd
20. Elizabeth Truss
Interestingly, those who were polled preferred their male candidates to be of a Liberal persuasion, with 12 politicians affiliated with liberal or left-wing parties, to eight who are either Republican or Conservative. Voters showed that they preferred the exact opposite with female politicians, with 12 being of a right-wing or Conservative ideology, with eight being part of liberal or left-wing parties.
Andrea Leadson has withdrawn from the Conservative leadership race.
By Policy Exchange (Flickr: Andrea Leadsom MP) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Gay marriage opponent Andrea Leadsom has withdrawn from the Prime Minister race, meaning that Theresa May will now become Brtain’s next Prime Minister.
The controversial candidate announced that she was no longer going to go ahead with her campaign to run the country.
Her withdrawal means that Theresa May, who has been the Home Secretary since 2010, will become the UK’s next Prime Minister.
Andrea Leadsom was criticised heavily during her campaign because of her views on key equality issues, such as same-sex marriage which she did not vote on in 2013 and said had caused “hurt” to Christians across the UK.
The candidate, who if successful, will become the unelected leader of the UK, called the laws “divisive” and “absurd” in 2013 and maintained in an interview this morning on ITV that marriage was, “a Christian service that was for men and women who wanted to commit in the eyes of God”.
During her interview Leadsom said,
“I believe the love of same-sex couples is as every bit as valuable that of opposite sex couples – absolutely committed to that. But nevertheless, my own view actually, is that marriage in the biblical sense is very clearly from the many many Christians who wrote to me on this subject – in their opinion – can only be between a man and a woman.”
She said that she would have preferred for civil partnerships to be made available to both gay and heterosexual couples.
She continued,
“I think we’ve muddled the terms of marriage, civil partnership, church etc. I would have liked that to have been clarified.I didn’t really like the legislation – that was the problem. But I absolutely support gay marriage.”
There are five candidates currently vying for the top job in Westminster, we asked them all about how equality and security for LGBT people in Britain will be protected if they got into power.
This has led many in the LGBT+ community to be anxious about rights and security in the future under another leader of the current Conservative government.
Yesterday after THEGAYUK wrote to each of the candidates, Theresa May, Stephen Crabb, Liam Fox, Michael Gove and Andrea Leadsom to ask them what reassurances they could offer to the gay community against legislative rollback on laws affecting the LGBT+ community and the current equality we enjoy.
Here’s what each candidate has said.
Nothing.
UPDATE: Monday 8:51AM
Over two days – nothing concrete to assure the LGBT+ community that they’ll be safe within a new Conservative government.
Five candidates have now confirmed that they are running for the top job in the UK.
Theresa May, Stephen Crabb, Michael Gove, Andrea Leadsom and Liam Fox have announced their intentions to become Britain’s next top politician.
All have troubling pasts when it comes to LGBT rights, with No votes and absenteeism rife among the candidates during key LGBT+ legislations.
Theresa May has managed to evolve on her LGBT stance, but Stephen Crabb and Liam Fox were vehemently opposed to LGBT rights during the same-sex marriage vote in 2013. Andrea Leadsom refused to vote on any LGBT legislation.
With David Cameron going and a new Conservative leadership campaign triggered we check to see what each candidate’s LGBT credentials are.
David Cameron, who made LGBT equality one of the cornerstones of his administration has announced his resignation after the UK voted to leave the EU. A Tory leadership battle is now underway. We look at the possible candidates and their views and voting records on LGBT+ equality
How we calculated our results.
Using TheyWorkForYou.com we were able to define MPs’ voting records on equality issues. We made conclusions on an MP’s voting record – we counted Absent votes as a negative.
The likelihood on responsiveness was a mix between a 2015 survey on how MPs responded to their own constituents’ emails and their voting record on LGBT matters.
This list will be updated as new candidate come forward or denounce their candidacy.
PERFECT: Voted to give equality each time
GOOD: Voted to give equality most of the time
MIXED: Voted equally for and against equality
POOR: Generally voted against equality
TERRIBLE: Always voted against – or abstained.
REFORMED: Used to vote against, now has good record.
