She’s tipped for Conservative leadership. But just how committed to LGBTQ+ equality is the Minister for Women and Equalities? (Clue: how committed can she be when also Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade? She’s booked and busy. And not in a good way.)
2018
Badenoch uses an outdated term for trans people in an explosive rant about LGBTQ+s, with audio leaking to Vice three years later. “It’s no longer about minority rights in terms of race any more or nationality,” she said. “It’s … not even about sexuality now, it’s now like the whole transgender movement, where, OK, well, we’ve got gay marriage, and civil partnerships, so, what are transsexuals looking for?”
9 July 2019
Badenoch abstains from voting on marriage equality in Northern Ireland. Hilariously, this was her one and only opportunity to concretely vote on LGBTQ+ equality, and she declined to do so.
13 July 2020
Badenoch has an “introductory meeting” with controversial campaigning group, the trans-exclusionary LGB Alliance.
July 2022
In letters seen by Vice, Badenoch is accused of pressuring the Financial Conduct Authority [FCA] to drop trans-inclusive workplace policies.
February 2023
Badenoch defends Scottish politician Kate Forbes after she says she sees marriage as “between a man and a woman”. Badenoch tells Politico: “I support same-sex marriage and, like anyone, I’m disappointed when anyone disagrees with me. But if you’re asking me to condemn someone for their religious views you’ve failed to understand the basic responsibilities of being Minister for Equality.”
December 2023
It emerges Badenoch has not met with any major LGBTQ+ organisation since becoming Equalities Minister — but has met with the LGB Alliance and Sex Matters. The news follows Badenoch’s Commons statement about stopping people with overseas Gender Recognition Certificates (GRC) from having their gender legally recognised in the UK.
February 2024
Badenoch pits Ls, Gs, and Bs against Ts in a letter to a select committee where she refers to “evidence that children likel
