List of the first openly LGBT holders of political offices in the United Kingdom
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The following is a list of the first openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender individuals to serve in selected political offices in the United Kingdom.
Party leaderships
[edit]- 2008, First out male Leader of a political party in Scotland[1]
- Patrick Harvie, Scottish Greens, MSP 2003–present
- 2011, First out female Leader of a political party in Scotland[2]
- Ruth Davidson, Scottish Conservatives, MSP 2011–2019
- 2018, First out male leader of a political party in Wales[3]
- Adam Price, Plaid Cymru, AM/MS 2016–present
- 2020, First black, bisexual leader of a political party in the United Kingdom[4]
- Mandu Reid, Women's Equality Party, since 2020
UK Cabinet
[edit]- 1997, First male Cabinet minister to be out before being appointed[5]
- Chris Smith, Labour, MP 1983–2005
- 2016, First male Cabinet minister to come out in office[6]
- David Mundell, Conservative, MP 2005–present
- 2016, First female Cabinet minister to come out in office[7]
- Justine Greening, Conservative, MP 2005–2019
British Parliament
[edit]- 1597, First known LGBTQ+ Member of Parliament[8]
- Anthony Bacon, Independent, elected as MP for Wallingford in 1593
- 1976, First outed (female) MP[9]
- Maureen Colquhoun, Labour, MP 1974–1979
- 1984, First MP to come out in office[10]
- Chris Smith, Labour, MP 1983–2005
- May 1997, First MPs to be out before being elected
- Stephen Twigg, Labour, MP 1997–2005, 2010–2019[11]
- Ben Bradshaw, Labour, MP 1997–2024[12]
- Sep 1997, First female MP to come out in office[13]
- Angela Eagle, Labour, MP 1992–Present
- June 2001, First out Plaid Cymru MP[3]
- Adam Price, Plaid Cymru, MP 2001–2010
- 2002, First Conservative MP to come out[14]
- Alan Duncan, Conservative, MP 1992–2019
- Jan 2005, First MP to come out as HIV positive[5]
- Chris Smith, Labour, MP 1983–2005
- May 2005, First out Liberal Democrat MP[15]
- Stephen Williams, Liberal Democrats, MP 2005–2015
- May 2005, First Conservative MP to be out before being elected[16]
- Nick Herbert, Conservative, MP 2005–2019
- Jan 2006, First MP to be outed as bisexual[17]
- Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat, MP 1983–2015
- May 2006, First MP to enter into a civil partnership[18]
- David Borrow, Labour, MP 1997–2010
- 2008, First female MP to enter into a civil partnership[19]
- Angela Eagle, Labour, MP 1992–present
- 2010, First female MP to be out before being elected, and first out Conservative female MP[20]
- Margot James, Conservative, MP 2010–2019
- December 2010, First out Deputy Speaker
- Nigel Evans, First Chairman of Ways and Means 2010–2013, Second Chairman of Ways and Means 2020–2024[21]
- 2013, First MP to voluntarily come out as bisexual[22]
- Daniel Kawczynski, Conservative, MP 2005–2024
- 2015, First MP to be out as bisexual before being elected; First female MP to be out as bisexual[23]
- Cat Smith, Labour, MP 2015–present
- 2020, First MP to come out as pansexual[24]
- Layla Moran, Liberal Democrat, MP 2017–present
- 2021, First female Conservative MP to be openly bisexual[25]
- Dehenna Davison, Conservative, MP 2019–2024
- 2022, First MP to come out as transgender[26]
- Jamie Wallis, Conservative, MP 2019–2024
- 2024, First bisexual party leader in Westminster
- Carla Denyer, Greens, MP 2024-present
- First out Peer[27]
- Lord Alli, Labour, 1998–present
- First out female Peer[28]
- Deborah Stedman-Scott, Baroness Stedman-Scott, Conservative, 2010–present
European Parliament
[edit]- Jan 1999, First out UK MEP[29]
- Tom Spencer, Conservative, MEP 1979–1984, 1989–1999
- Jun 1999, First UK MEP to be out before office[30]
- Michael Cashman, Labour, MEP 1999–2014
- 2013, First openly transgender UK MEP[31]
- Nikki Sinclaire, UK Independence Party (later Independent), MEP 2009–2014
- 2019, First gay and black UK MEP[32]
- Louis Stedman-Bryce, Brexit Party (later Independent), MEP 2019–2020
- First out MSP[33]
- Iain Smith, Scottish Liberal Democrats, MSP 1999–2011
- 2003, First out Female MSP[34]
- Margaret Smith, Scottish Liberal Democrats, 1999–2011
- 2003, First out Scottish Green MSP[35]
- Patrick Harvie, Scottish Green Party, MSP 2003–present
- 2007, First out SNP MSP
- Joe FitzPatrick, Scottish National Party, MSP 2007–present
- 2011, First out Scottish Conservative MSP[2]
- Ruth Davidson, Scottish Conservative Party, MSP 2011–present
- 2016, First out Scottish Labour MSP[36]
- Kezia Dugdale, Scottish Labour Party, MSP 2011–present
- 1999, First out minister[33]
- Iain Smith, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Deputy Minister for Parliament
- 2016, First out Cabinet minister[37]
- 2016, First out female minister[38]
- Jeane Freeman, Scottish National Party, Minister for Social Security
- First out AM,[39]
- Ron Davies, Labour, 1999–2003
- First out cabinet secretary to be appointed
- Jeremy Miles, Labour, 2017–present[40]
- First out minister to be appointed
- Hannah Blythyn, Labour, 2017–present[40]
- First out MLA[41]
- John Blair, Alliance, 2018–present
- First out PCC[42]
- Olly Martins, Labour, 2012–2016
- First out directly elected executive mayor[43]
- Mike Wolfe, Mayor4Stoke, 2002–2005
- First out directly elected metropolitan mayor[44]
- Paul Dennett, Labour, 2016–present
- First out directly elected London borough mayor[45]
- Philip Glanville, Labour, 2016–2023
Municipal offices
[edit]England
[edit]- Bolton
- Horwich Town Council: First open lesbian as mayor (2013–2014) civil partner mayoress: Christine A. Root[46]
- First out committee chair and group leader Paul Elgood (1999–2012)
- First out Trans councillor and first to transition while holding elected public office: Rosalind Mitchell (1997) [47]
- Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
- First trans mayor: Jenny Bailey (2007–2008)[48]
- Durham
- First openly gay councillor in the UK and first known openly gay candidate for UK elected office: Sam Green (1972)
- Essex – Epping Forest District Council
- First openly gay directly elected mayor: Philip Glanville (2016–present)[54][55]
- Mayor: Robert Crossman (1986)[56]
- Lord Mayor: Colin Inglis (elected 2011) Council Leader 2003–2005, Police Authority Chair 2000–2005[57]
- First openly gay Lord Mayor: Gary Millar (2013–2014)[58]
- First openly gay Lord Mayor: Carl Austin-Behan (2016–2017)[59]
- First openly gay Mayor: Paul Dennett[60]
- First openly gay Leader of the Council: Paul Scriven (2008–2011)[61]
- First openly gay leader of the council: Sean Anstee (2014–2018)[62]
- Haslemere, Surrey
- First openly gay deputy mayor: Sahran Abeysundara (elected 2015)[63]
- First openly gay mayor: Sahran Abeysundara (elected 2016)[63]
London
[edit]- First members of the London Assembly: Brian Coleman, Andrew Boff and Richard Barnes – Conservative and Darren Johnson – Green Party (elected 2000)[64]
- First openly gay deputy mayor: Richard Barnes (appointed 2008)[65]
- First openly gay mayor: Jeff Hook:[66]
- Camden
- First openly gay mayor: Jonathan Simpson (elected 2010)[67]
- Mayor: Marc Cranfield-Adams (2007)[68]
Wales
[edit]- Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
- First openly lesbian mayor, with her partner as mayoress: Jaci Taylor (2000–2001), Plaid Cymru.[69][70]
Rhondda Cynon Taf
- First openly gay cabinet member Layton Percy Jones (Plaid Cymru). Cabinet Member for Social Services 1999–2005[71]
- Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire
- First openly gay mayor, first mayor in a civil partnership: Guy Woodham (2012–2013)[72][73]
- First openly gay mayor and deputy mayor: William Elliott (mayor) and Colin Sharp (deputy mayor)[74]
- Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent
- First openly bisexual chairman of council, Julian Meek (2012–2013), Plaid Cymru.[75]
- Bangor, Gwynedd
- The world's first non-binary Mayor and Wales' youngest ever Mayor, Owen Hurcum (2021–2022), Independent[76]
See also
[edit]References
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- ^ William Elliott
- ^ Meek, J (2014). Entering Into the Mystery, Passion, Resurrection, Healing and Wholeness. Abertillery: Gaudete Books. – refers to the writer's work as a council chairman and LGBT Christian rights activist.
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