Question for the UK LGBT community: This article makes it sound like the pink vote is significant to the Tories. As an American, I’m having a really hard time imagining how that comes about. I’d accuse it of being slanted, but it quotes a number of Tory MPs who are publicly and strongly criticizing the statement.
In the US, the LGBT vote is pretty overwhelmingly Democratic. There’s a small group that support republicans, but it’s very rare - to the point it’s something worthy of notice and a point of contention.
So, is the portrayal in this article accurate? What are the politics over there? I’ve been active politically since the days of ACT UP, so I know what things are like over here, but I’m completely stunned by what they’re presenting about the political alignment over there.
Thank you. Yes, that was my impression. I’m cis, but I’ve been politically active for the community for awhile, and (most) of us take the solidarity stuff pretty seriously. There’s always the Log Cabin Republican or lesbian TERF who is otherwise incredibly liberal, but they’re mostly the exception, in my experience. The Democrats have recognized that, at least , and have generally resisted right wing efforts to split the community with transphobia.
It’s obviously shit here and getting worse, but the trans community has a definite “side” in politics, and the majority of the LGBT community is there as well.
Does the trans community there feel split off from the queer community in general? Do they feel represented in government, or is it like the 1959s?
These stories give you some idea of the tensions. I’m going to say it’s sadly a 1950s hegemon with some green shoots attempting to come through
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2023/oct/03/transphobic-homophobic-tory-member-removed-from-conference-during-bravermans-speech-video
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/mar/30/tory-mp-jamie-wallis-trans-reveals-rape-ordeal
You would hope a Labour government would be less transphobic but they’re terrified of the right wing press and obnoxiously timid on any issue they fear being attacked on.
As to public attitudes, this poll has a depressing headline but the detail is a bit more nuanced. I don’t know how this compares to the US?
https://yougov.co.uk/society/articles/43194-where-does-british-public-stand-transgender-rights-1?redirect_from=%2Ftopics%2Fsociety%2Farticles-reports%2F2022%2F07%2F20%2Fwhere-does-british-public-stand-transgender-rights