The six leaders who write about i, who have occupied Downing Street for the past 32 years, reaffirm their commitment to equality laws. Their words come before the London Pride March on Saturday, when more than a million people will take to the streets to celebrate LGBT equality, 50 years after the first official march. Reacting to the historic comments of three decades of British leaders, Tom Daley, an Olympic gold medalist and LGBT fighter, told i: “It’s unbelievable. If you did a flashback for 50 years and tried to get six Prime Ministers to talk about it, no one would. “Promoting the debate on LGBT integration starts at the top and that could have an incredible impact.” Haven Thorne, from Pride in London, said: “On Saturday, July 2, London will gather for the 50th anniversary of this first historic protest in the United Kingdom in 1972, to defend and honor these veterans who paved the way. and to continue the progress of the LGBT + community “.
“There are still obstacles to be overcome”
Sir John Major, Conservative 1990 to 1997 Sir John says tolerance and understanding have increased since he was in power, but that there are “still obstacles to overcome” (Photo: AP) Social progress in protecting minorities is often painfully slow, but I warmly welcome the progress that has been made now – and continues to be made. I remember being shocked by the bigotry and intolerance that followed a meeting I had with Sir Ian McKellen more than thirty years ago, when, as Prime Minister, I was trying to better understand the difficulties facing the gay community. Sir Ian – whose brave defense I admired – was one of the reasons why Parliament voted in favor of lowering the age of consent in 1994. Gradually, but steadily, tolerance and understanding have increased since then – although, unfortunately, there are still obstacles that need to be overcome.
“It’s important to remember how we got here”
Sir Tony Blair, Labor 1997 to 2007 Sir Tony is proud of the progress he has made in the UK over the last 50 years (Photo: Getty) There may still be a way, from tackling hate crime to challenging outdated views in some communities, but after half a century, I am so proud of the progress our country has made. One of the things that sets me apart is the consensus that has now been reached between the major political parties. Promoting LGBT rights is considered important and right. This is in stark contrast to the prejudice that was so prevalent when I was first elected to Parliament in 1983. But it is important to remember how we got here. The change happened only because people got up and made it a reality, with progressive values leading the debate. Building consensus for change was the top priority. And it is these values that shaped the approach of the New Labor reforms. Section 28 is just one example of the terrible situation in the 1980s and ’90s. It embodied the fanaticism that was so common among so much of the political class at the time and its abolition has always been a priority for my government. With this and all the other reforms we have managed to promote, from equalizing the age of consensus to establishing partnerships, showing strong leadership and taking the country with us was the key. It is important to remember – our belief in a tolerant, open and equal society means nothing if it cannot be translated into real tangible change. Creating a Britain where everyone is treated equally has been, is and always will be the right thing to do.
“I am proud that the Labor Party annulled Thatcher’s disastrous Article 28 laws”
Gordon Brown, Working 2007 to 2010 Gordon Brown said change would not have come without the courage, determination and activism of the LGBTQ + community (Photo: Getty) The road to equality is long and never easy. It is often said that in Britain the first five hundred years of the history of any institution are always the most difficult. So we should all be proud that in just fifty years of Pride, the brave, relentless campaign for human rights has made Britain a more equal and tolerant country today. Disappointed by the blatant discrimination against homosexuality legitimized by Article 28 under Margaret Thatcher in 1988, I am proud that one of the first acts of Labor in government was the repeal of this disastrous law and the creation of partnerships. And from the Ministry of Finance, we made sure that these civil partnerships were also designed as equal, insisting on creating an equal right of the political partners to inherit and share the pensions. I was glad to be able to eliminate another area of discrimination when, as Prime Minister, our government decided to extend these rights by removing the “need for a father” clause when considering whether to allow in vitro fertilization. Although there are a few areas where my successor David Cameron and I have found common ground, I applaud his government for offering same-sex marriage to couples, despite strong opposition from some on their own benches.
More about Pride
But I also know that the political changes made by Parliament would not have come without the courageous determination and activism of our outspoken and proud LGBTQ + community. Therefore, it is not only right to celebrate Pride at 50, but also to celebrate your achievements: you have changed laws, you have changed lives, you have changed the world.
“At first, I did not really believe in equal marriage. My wife Sam convinced me “
David Cameron, Conservative 2010 to 2016 David Cameron says legalizing gay marriage was a tough battle (Photo: Getty) The wedding season is approaching and after so many delays during the pandemic there seems to be a record number of weddings this summer – happy unions between men and women, men and men and women and women. One of the achievements of which I am most proud as Prime Minister was to change the law so that these same-sex couples can get married. It’s something we take for granted now, just a few years later, but there was a tough fight back then. At first, I was not a true believer. I advocated for gay rights and partnerships, but I was not immediately sold on the issue of full equal marriage. It took time, many thoughts and discussions with my wife, Sam, and other friends to devote myself so much to politics that I was willing to fight for it. And it was a fight. The opposition was fierce – from voters, voters, religious organizations and many in my own party. There was a lot of pressure to drop it. But we kept fighting – and we were right. Equal marriage is absolutely necessary. People should be able to get married, whoever they are and whoever they love. It is easy to take these things for granted now and assume that society is becoming more equal over time. The truth is that gay rights have never been a given. They happened because of brave and dedicated men and women from the gay community and society at large. Pride has played a huge role in this progress. The year I was born, homosexuality was still illegal in Britain. Today, I live in a country where people of all sexualities proudly hold the rainbow flag. My children’s generation talks about their LGBT + friends and sexuality as something that is completely indifferent. There is, of course, still a way to ensure absolute equality. But as we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Pride, I will take some time to celebrate how far we have come.
“The debate on trans people has become more, not less, divisive”
Theresa May, Conservative 2016 to 2019 Theresa May, as we recognize the progress that has been made, we must remember that there is still a long way to go (Photo: Getty) Five decades ago, militants bravely faced abuse and ridicule as they marched to raise awareness of the discrimination they faced in law, employment and society at large. Fifty years later, thanks to people like Peter Tatchell and the commitment of many other long-time fighters, we can be proud of how much and how deeply attitudes have changed. I include myself in this – looking back now, there are issues that I would have voted for differently if I had voted for them today. But as we recognize the progress that has been made, we must remember that there is still a long way to go. I was proud, as Prime Minister, to launch the country’s first National LGBT Survey. More than 100,000 people responded. Some of the results were encouraging. Most gays and lesbians tell us that they feel comfortable living in the UK and that the majority of LGBT people – almost 60 per cent – feel able to be open about their sexuality or gender identity at work. At the same time, however, two out of five LGBT people said they had been verbally or physically abused because of their sexuality or gender identity. Nearly two-thirds avoid going hand in hand with same-sex partners for fear of a negative reaction. Few people, reading the accounts of trans people in our research, would disagree that they still face humiliation and prejudice when they deserve understanding and respect. It has been almost five years since this research began and during this time the debate about trans people has become more, not less, divisive. We must fight for greater understanding on both sides of the debate. Just because an issue is controversial does not mean that we can avoid it. To this end, the government must honor its commitment to address the issue of trans-conversion therapy. If it is not going to be included in the upcoming bill, then the issue should not be left out. Because, whatever our sexuality or gender identity, we all deserve equal acceptance. LGBT rights are human rights. That was the lesson 50 years ago and while we have come a long way, it is something we still need to remind ourselves of today.
