In just one tweet, Theresa May insulted the entire LGBTQI+ community

Rainbow flag
Fréa Lockley


17 May is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. The day challenges the “discriminatory laws, policies and practices against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex… people” (LGBTQI+) that still exist around the world.

Theresa May attempted to support the initiative. Instead, she managed to insult the UK’s entire LGBTQI+ community in just one tweet.

Peak hypocrisy

As the UN notes:

Raising our voices against homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and intersexphobia on 17 May is a chance to reaffirm our commitment to respect human dignity and to champion human rights.

May seemed to think that her tweet supported this position:

But she got this oh so very wrong. And many people pointed out just how wrong.

Author James Felton noted May’s voting record. Because it demonstrates how little support she’s given LGBTQI+ people as both MP and Conservative Party leader:

And many other people explained that May’s agreement with the DUP totally undermines her faux support for the LGBTQI+ community.

“Now sashay away”

Since the 2017 general election, the DUP has worked hard to keep May in power. Yet the DUP’s track record on supporting  LGBTQI+ rights is appalling. For a start, it’s consistently blocked any opportunity for same-sex marriage. So many people shared their outrage on Twitter:

 

Many leading DUP politicians also continue to make offensive, homophobic comments. For example, in 2007, Ian Paisley Jr said: “I am pretty repulsed by gay and lesbianism. I think it is wrong”. In 2016, DUP leader Arlene Foster said of pro-marriage equality:

I could not care less what people get up to in terms of their sexuality, that’s not a matter for me – when it becomes a matter for me is when people try to redefine marriage.

So one person on Twitter gave the absolutely perfect response:

The game’s up, May. Spare your faux ‘support’ for LGBTQI+ people. Because as many people pointed out, working with the DUP means it really is time to “sashay away”.

Featured image via Benson Kua/Flickr

We need your help ...

The coronavirus pandemic is changing our world, fast. And we will do all we can to keep bringing you news and analysis throughout. But we are worried about maintaining enough income to pay our staff and minimal overheads.

Now, more than ever, we need a vibrant, independent media that holds the government to account and calls it out when it puts vested economic interests above human lives. We need a media that shows solidarity with the people most affected by the crisis – and one that can help to build a world based on collaboration and compassion.

We have been fighting against an establishment that is trying to shut us down. And like most independent media, we don’t have the deep pockets of investors to call on to bail us out.

Can you help by chipping in a few pounds each month?

The Canary Support us

Related articles