The coming of Theresa May is definitely creating ripples. A lot of people are worried that Theresa has a not-so-spotless record when voting for LGBT rights. Though Theresa has shown support for gender non-conformists by voicing concern about Section 28 (which forbids local authorities from ‘promoting’ homosexuality). While this might seem like good news, she has been campaigning against equal rights for some years.
Another peek into her dodgy past and she is seen supporting equal marriage but is against LGBT couple who want to adopt. She has also consistently campaigned to revoke the Human Rights Act and she has played a part in mistreating LGBT asylum seekers. So it will be difficult to forget her record with a simple ‘YAY! GAY MARRIAGE!’ because that is just lip service by the party.
Yet others are speculating that Brexit could add to their troubles. Being part of the EU helped shape many of the rights and regulations protecting LGBT people like the Equality Act. With Brexit on the brink, there’s a fear that people who are inconsiderate about human rights will come into power.
Theresa tries to defend her position by saying, “I have changed my view. If those votes [on gay adoption] were taken today, I would take a different vote.” That could very well be believed as she voted in favour of the civil partnerships in 2004. Contrariwise, she also missed out of the votes that supported the Gender Recognition Act, which permits trans people to change their gender legally.
In 2008, she voted for a bill that required IVF pregnancies to include a male role model, effectually cultivating a discriminatory act against lesbian couples. Thankfully, the bill was not passed. Ms May did aid in ensuring that equal marriage proposals were put onto the Conservative agenda at the parliament, and voted in favour of equal marriage in 2013. All in all, she is a mixed bag so we’ll just have to wait and watch.
