The left don’t get that you can be gay and a Tory
In today’s world, it is often overlooked how hard it can be to be both gay and a Conservative.
We always hear the left claim “you can’t be gay and a Conservative”. We see Labour’s pride slogan “only Labour can deliver equality”. Labour uses it to try and own the LGBT community. Well let me tell you this, no one on the left, right or centre of politics owns the membership or the votes of the LGBT community- and it certainly isn’t the case that those who are tories are traitors.
I personally had no flack from school friends for being gay and Conservative because, believe it or not, they weren’t those kind of people. But sadly, the half decent left wingers who can refrain from insults and abuse are overshadowed by those who see the only way to argue is to use personal attacks. It was only the other day that I was called a “weird freak”. Why? Because I’m what the left hate. 18, Welsh, gay and Conservative.
The reason for the left’s hatred of people like me is because we threaten their reason to exist. It was always the case that Labour and other left wing parties were the ones standing up for minority rights. But now, times have changed. The Conservative party has the highest number of LGBT MPs in Westminster. 24, to be exact, which means they are now losing the argument that “only Labour can deliver equality”. Their old mantra is slowly dying and the tories are being hounded for it. I am proud of who I am and I am just as proud to see how many members and party officers are LGBT. It wouldn’t surprise me if we actually had more LGBT members, out or not, than Labour.
Not only are we challenging their existence, but we have exposed an underlying intolerance on the left. Never have I ever received, or anyone I know for that matter, a homophobic slur from a Conservative. They all come from the left. The two faces of the left is there for all to see. And they refuse to accept or denounce it. Now I’m not saying some Conservatives don’t have homophobic views etc but just last year, Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price (who is a gay man himself) was challenged over his shadow Health Minister’s views on transgender people but he refused to take responsibility claiming it was up to regional association. He could’ve sacked her and after all the flack, he did, after initially seeming not to take responsibility. It makes you wonder what would be the case if it was a Conservative Shadow Health Minister who held views like that. The media reporting daily, all the party leaders calling for suspensions and resignations. But because it was a left wing MS, there was nothing in the press and no calls for action. The left’s double standards shining through once again.
LGBT Conservatives are despised by those on the left because we are a threat to their very existence. But as I said, no one in politics owns our membership or vote. You can be gay and Tory and I will defend my right to be whenever it is challenged. We must never allow to left to use their intimidation and abuse to silence our voices. And we will always keep fighting to win the argument and highlight the sheer intolerance on the left for us. Until they grasp and accept it, we will never be free from the abuse and the left will keep losing.
Owen Edwards
"Gay Pride Flag" by zeevveez is licensed under CC BY 2.0