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Pride Month 2025-06-23
23 June 2025
Lead MP
The Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Crime & Law EnforcementDefenceHousing
Other Contributors: 29
At a Glance
The Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism raised concerns about pride month 2025-06-23 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Crime & Law EnforcementDefenceHousing
Government Statement
Today I am moving a motion to consider Pride Month. The need for Pride is not just historical but also current as it addresses ongoing issues such as bullying, family rejection, discrimination against trans people, and the criminalization of homosexuality in many countries. We have achieved same-sex marriage and adoption rights, but we still face challenges like conversion therapies, hate crimes, and unequal access to fertility services. The Government is banning conversion practices through draft legislation and equalising all hate crime strands with the Home Office. Improvements are being made to access to fertility services for lesbian and bisexual women, strengthening healthcare services for trans people, and establishing an inter-ministerial taskforce to address housing issues for young LGBT+ individuals at risk of homelessness.
Dawn Butler
Lab
Brent East
Question
The first Pride march in London was in 1972, and those who marched then thought they would never need to march again. Does the Minister feel sorry that Pride organisations have now said that no political parties are allowed to march because of how the LGBTQI+ community has been treated?
Minister reply
While acknowledging that banning political parties from marching is a retrograde step, the Minister emphasises the importance of political parties in changing laws and securing rights for LGBTQ people. The democratic process should not be discarded.
Siân Berry
Green
Brighton Pavilion
Question
Does the Minister agree that the decision by Pride organisations to ban political parties from marching is a direct result of the state of political policy and discourse around trans rights?
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges past challenges in securing LGBTQ rights through political means but emphasises the importance of not discarding democracy. While he will address issues with current policies, it is essential to continue using democratic processes.
Rachel Taylor
Lab
North Warwickshire and Bedworth
Question
The MP disputes the statement that most lesbians do not enjoy tennis or smoke cigars.
Minister reply
The Minister clarifies that he was making a humorous point about stereotypes and acknowledges the personal experiences of MPs regarding their interests.
Peter Swallow
Lab
Bracknell
Question
Will the Minister touch on proposed guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, particularly about disclosures and requiring trans people to disclose their identity? This seems nothing short of outing trans individuals.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend raises a good point. The Gender Recognition Act 2004 lays down clearly the privacy responsibilities of other Government Departments. Indeed, there was concern during consideration of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 that people would have to present documents to prove access to single-sex spaces. Reassurance is provided regarding full respect for both groups' rights.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
The Minister missed out on mentioning the LGBT community in our armed forces when discussing progress nationally and internationally. Will he pay tribute to Terence Etherton, who highlighted shameful treatment of gay people between 1967 and 2000?
Minister reply
I am grateful for this point; it is a time of agreement across the House. The Minister acknowledges bravery regardless of sexuality or identity. He also pays tribute to Terence Etherton's report, which was essential in changing the landscape and ensuring compensation for affected individuals.
Stuart Andrew
Con
Daventry
Question
The Minister is right to say Pride is still needed; can we discuss significant changes over his lifetime, including things he never thought would be possible? He has been accepted pretty much everywhere he lived but had difficult occasions. What about the young man kicked out of home in Manchester who eventually ended up selling himself for sex and was murdered?
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges important issues that need discussion. He highlights significant changes over his lifetime, including acceptance and privilege, but also remembers difficult moments such as being beaten up and needing his father's protection.
Ben Maguire
Lib Dem
Question
The MP called on the Government to address the slow progress in reviewing cases for the LGBT veterans financial recognition scheme, which currently has only paid out 24 of around 1,300 applications. He also urged the Minister to take immediate action to speed up these payments and improve compensation for LGBTQ+ veterans.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Question
The MP questioned the Government's lack of a specific timetable for banning conversion therapy, stressing the importance of providing reassurance to the trans community regarding their protections and safe spaces following the Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance.
Martin Rhodes
Lab
Glasgow North
Question
Picking up from what the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Ben Maguire) said about delays in the process of payments to those dismissed from the armed forces, that experience of delay has been raised with me by my constituent, Paul.
Ben Spencer
Con
Runnymede and Weybridge
Question
I am proud to speak in today’s debate on Pride Month; it is the first time I have done so. The Conservative party championed the rights of same-sex marriage.
Tristan Osborne
Lab
Chatham and Aylesford
Question
I welcome the statement from the Minister—I had no idea that he was a practising vicar or that he liked musicals, so I have finally found that out.
Tom Gordon
LD
Harrogate and Knaresborough
Question
I will be brief, given the time limit that has been set. I must say I was slightly disappointed that there were not more musical numbers and puns from the Minister in his speech at the start—I am sure we will get some later.
West Dorset
Question
I did not plan on intervening, but we had a hustings during the election, and one of the questions was about the upcoming Sherborne Pride. Unfortunately, I was amazed that even in this day and age there was not unanimous support for a Sherborne Pride.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Constituency Unspecified
Question
No specific question asked, but raised concerns around the Supreme Court ruling and hate crime.
Tom Gordon
SNP
Gordon
Question
Discussed personal experiences of coming out and addressed issues regarding online abuse and rhetoric.
Tim Roca
Lab
Macclesfield
Question
Emphasised the importance of upholding equality and discussed recent hate crimes and the UK's drop in ILGA-Europe rankings for LGBT+ rights.
Kirsty Blackman
SNP
Aberdeen North
Question
Critiqued the EHRC guidance on trans people’s rights and supported Pride organisations' decision to exclude political parties.
Tom Hayes
Lab
Bournemouth East
Question
Called for faster progress in LGBT+ liberation, mentioned legislative steps needed, and referenced LGBT veterans' support by the Government.
Southend West and Leigh
Question
Celebrates Basildon Pride, commends efforts to stand against discrimination, mentions challenges faced by Prides across the country.
Brian Leishman
Lab
Alloa and Grangemouth
Question
Shares a collaboration story between Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners and the mining community during the miners’ strike of 1984 to 1985, emphasising allyship and class solidarity.
Rachel Taylor
Lab
North Warwickshire and Bedworth
Question
Recalls her experience at Pride events during the enactment of section 28 in 1988, highlighting the importance of visibility and protest.
Alex Sobel
Lab/Co-op
Leeds Central and Headingley
Question
In the words of Stonewall, Pride Month is a reminder of how far we've come but also how much work still needs to be done. I would like to thank Stonewall, Trans+ Solidarity Alliance and Rainbow Migration for their vital work in understanding the challenging issues facing the LGBT community. Rainbow Migration supports LGBT people through the asylum and immigration system. Its work is pivotal to a number of constituents of mine who have fled their country and identify as LGBT+. They are seeking support in the UK where they can feel like their true selves.
Minister reply
No response provided.
Oliver Ryan
Ind
Burnley
Question
Why do we need Pride? The answer is that for far too many people, being yourself and being who you are feels like a trial and a struggle. We need it because too many LGBT people are attacked, abused or dismissed because of their sexuality. It looks like a parade and a party on the street, but Pride is about acknowledging that struggle—the struggle for respect and equality.
Minister reply
No response provided.
Question
My hon. Friend has worked very hard on the issue of compensation for LGBT veterans because of the disgraceful way they were treated by the British state, which has been raised at various points this evening.
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention and I absolutely will. One of the first experiences I had as an MP was being approached by a constituent, Steven, whom I had not met during the election campaign, and who has now received compensation for his disgraceful treatment when he was a member of the armed forces.
Question
I just want to say how proud I am that my hon. Friend is here in this Chamber as an LGBT MP.
Minister reply
Absolutely. I am so proud of my hon. Friend and everybody else who has contributed to the debate, whether LGBT or an ally. I stand here as an openly gay man, but allies have talked about films—Pride and things—that they have seen.
Samantha Niblett
Lab
South Derbyshire
Question
Inspired by the Minister’s comment that coming out matters, I thought I would use this very public forum to say that I am a bisexual woman. Some people know; some do not.
Minister reply
No response provided.
Question
We have had a lovely, light-hearted debate for the most part. Does the hon. Lady agree that leaders of political parties have power through their words? Would she push for her party in particular to ensure that, when it comes to LGBT rights, we consider the humanity that we are talking about and do not whip up hate?
Minister reply
I think that hon. Members heard from the Conservative Front Bench a young man from Anglesey—my right hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Stuart Andrew)—speaking very much about what the challenges were for him living in an isolated, rural area, just as we heard from the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Llinos Medi). It is right that we should put safety, dignity and the freedom to live your life at the heart of everything we do. My right hon. Friend was right that we are all leaders in our own ways.
Oliver Ryan
Burnley
Question
The hon. Member for Burnley acknowledged the Minister's commitment to LGBT+ rights and asked her to join in praising Chris Bryant as a trailblazer.
Minister reply
I am always happy to praise trailblazers like my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda and Ogmore (Chris Bryant). We need more people like him, who have been through struggles and written extensively about the role of LGBT individuals in public life.
Rachel Taylor
North Warwickshire and Bedworth
Question
The hon. Member for North Warwickshire and Bedworth thanked the Minister for her unwavering support throughout a difficult year for LGBT people, highlighting her trailblazing work.
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for those kind comments and pay tribute to all Members who have taken part today. On this side of the House, we have heard from many colleagues committed to equality.
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