List of the first 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[]
- 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[]
- 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[]
House of Commons[]
- 1597, First known LGBT 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–present[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–present[21]
- 2013, First MP to voluntarily come out as bisexual[22]
- Daniel Kawczynski, Conservative, MP 2005–present
- 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
House of Lords[]
- First out Peer[25]
- Lord Alli, Labour, 1998–present
- First out female Peer [26]
- Deborah Stedman-Scott, Baroness Stedman-Scott, Conservative, 2010–present
European Parliament[]
- Jan 1999, First out UK MEP[27]
- Tom Spencer, Conservative, MEP 1979–1984, 1989–1999
- Jun 1999, First UK MEP to be out before office[28]
- Michael Cashman, Labour, MEP 1999–2014
- 2013, First openly transgender UK MEP[29]
- Nikki Sinclaire, UK Independence Party (later Independent), MEP 2009–2014
- 2019, First gay and black UK MEP[30]
- Louis Stedman-Bryce, Brexit Party (later Independent), MEP 2019-2020
Scottish Parliament[]
- First out MSP[31]
- Iain Smith, Scottish Liberal Democrats, MSP 1999–2011
- 2003, First out Female MSP[32]
- Margaret Smith, Scottish Liberal Democrats, 1999–2011
- 2003, First out Scottish Green MSP[33]
- 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[34]
- Kezia Dugdale, Scottish Labour Party, MSP 2011–Present
Scottish Government[]
- 1999, First out minister[31]
- Iain Smith, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Deputy Minister for Parliament
- 2016, First out Cabinet minister[35]
- Derek Mackay, Scottish National Party, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution
- 2016, First out female minister[36]
- Jeane Freeman, Scottish National Party, Minister for Social Security
Senedd[]
- First out AM,[37]
- Ron Davies, Labour, 1999–2003
- First out cabinet secretary to be appointed Jeremy Miles, Labour, 2017 -[38]
- First out minister to be appointed Hannah Blythyn, Labour, 2017 -[38]
Northern Ireland Assembly[]
- First out MLA[39]
- John Blair, Alliance, 2018 -
Municipal offices[]
England[]
- Bolton
- Horwich Town Council: First open lesbian as mayor (2013 - 2014 ) civil partner mayoress: Christine A. Root[40]
- Brighton & Hove City Council
- First out committee chair and group leader Paul Elgood (1999 - 2012)
- Bristol
- First out Trans councillor and first to transition while holding elected public office: Rosalind Mitchell (1997) [41]
- Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
- First trans mayor: Jenny Bailey (2007–2008)[42]
- Camden
- First openly gay Mayor & Mayoress (2010 / 2011) [Jonathan Simpson and Amy Lame][43]
- 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
- Hackney
- First openly gay directly elected mayor: Philip Glanville (2016–present)[46][47]
- Islington
- Mayor: Robert Crossman (1986)[48]
- Kingston upon Hull
- Lord Mayor: Colin Inglis (elected 2011) Council Leader 2003–2005, Police Authority Chair 2000–05[49]
- Liverpool
- First openly gay Lord Mayor: Gary Millar (2013–2014)[50]
- Manchester
- First openly gay Lord Mayor: Carl Austin-Behan (2016–2017)[51]
- Salford
- First openly gay Mayor: Paul Dennett[52]
- Sheffield
- First openly gay Leader of the Council: Paul Scriven (2008 - 2011)[53]
- Trafford
- First openly gay leader of the council: Sean Anstee (since 2014)[54]
- Haslemere, Surrey
- First openly gay deputy mayor: Sahran Abeysundara (elected 2015)[55]
- First openly gay mayor: Sahran Abeysundara (elected 2016)[55]
London[]
- Greater London Authority
- First members of the London Assembly: Brian Coleman, Andrew Boff & Richard Barnes - Conservative & Darren Johnson - Green Party (elected 2000)[56]
- First openly gay deputy mayor: Richard Barnes (appointed 2008)[57]
- Southwark
- First openly gay mayor: Jeff Hook:[58]
- Camden
- First openly gay mayor: Jonathan Simpson (elected 2010)[59]
- Richmond
- Mayor: Marc Cranfield-Adams (2007)[60]
Wales[]
- Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
- First openly lesbian mayor, with her partner as mayoress: Jaci Taylor (2000–2001), Plaid Cymru.[61][62]
Rhondda Cynon Taf
- First openly gay cabinet member Layton Percy Jones (Plaid Cymru). Cabinet Member for Social Services 1999 - 2005[63]
- Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire
- First openly gay mayor, first mayor in a civil partnership: Guy Woodham (2012–2013)[64][65]
- First openly gay mayor and deputy mayor: William Elliott (mayor) and Colin Sharp (deputy mayor)[66]
- Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent
- First openly bisexual chairman of council, Julian Meek (2012–2013), Plaid Cymru.[67]
- Bangor, Gwynedd
- The world's first non-binary Mayor and Wales' youngest ever Mayor, Owen J Hurcum (2021 - ), Independent[68]
References[]
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- ^ William Elliott
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Categories:
- LGBT politicians from the United Kingdom
- Lists of political office-holders in the United Kingdom
- Lists of the first LGBT holders of political offices