| LGBTory | |
|---|---|
The LGBTory Logo. |
|
| Motto | "The LGBT Conservative Group" |
| Formation | 2006 |
| Type | LGBT, Conservative |
| Purpose/focus | LGBT Rights and Conservative Principles |
| Location | United Kingdom |
| Region served | England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales |
| National Chairman | Matthew Sephton |
| Main organ | National Officers Executive[1] |
| Affiliations | Conservative Party |
| Website | http://www.lgbtory.co.uk/ |
LGBTory is a LGBT and Conservative Group linked to, but not run, directed or funded by the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom. The first LGBT Conservative group was called CGHE (Conservative Group for Homosexual Equality. It was founded in 1975 by Professor Peter Campbell of Reading University. That group was reconstituted at the Conservative Party Conference in 1991 and was renamed TORCHE (the Tory Campaign for Homosexual Equality) under the chairmanship of Dr David Starkey.[2] This group was active until c.2003. and some years later LGBTory[3] was formed. LGBTory has an active membership organised often organised using its Facebook Groups and pages and attends vigils and LGBT Pride events across the UK including Pride London,[4] Pride Scotia, Leeds Pride,[5][6] Manchester Pride,[7] Doncaster Pride, Edinburgh Pride, Glasgow Pride, Liverpool Pride, Cardiff Pride, Reading Pride and Brighton Pride.[8][9]
LGBTory campaigned in seats throughout the campaign for the 6th May 2010 General Election, there are now at least 12 openly Gay and Lesbian Conservative MP's in parliament,[10][11] more than all the other Parliamentary Parties put together, this includes Margot James who is only the second openly lesbian in parliament.[12]
LGBTory works to promote LGBT Equality within the Conservative Party[13][14][15] and generally across the UK, actively campaigning against the Gay Blood Ban[16] and for marriage equality, regardless of sexuality or gender identity.[17]
Contents |
The name LGBTory hit some controversy when members of the Trans community felt that it was missing the letter T and actually read LGB-Tory rather than the play on words and correct LGBT-ory. Chairman Matthew Sephton pointed out during an interview on a local Manchester BBC radio show that this was not the case and that the organisation does indeed have Trans members. He further claimed that the name of the Liberal Democrats' LGBT organisation, Delga[18] - made no attempt to refer to the Trans community nor the bisexual community.
The founder and first official chairman of LGBTory was Anastasia Beaumont-Bott[19] and it was under her Chairmanship that Mayor of London Boris Johnson attended and led the London Pride March in 2008.[20] Beaumont-Bott later defected to Labour following Chris Grayling's controversial comments about gay couples in B&Bs.[21]
The second chairman of LGBTory was Edward Butler-Ellis; under his chairmanship official membership was founded to the organisation, and this led to a massive understanding about the LGBT Community's part within the Conservative Party.
The current chairman of LGBTory is Matthew Sephton;[22] under his leadership LGBTory has expanded with the organisation attending more pride events than ever. Sephton is often in the Pink Media[23] as a voice for the Conservatives within the gay community.
As well as social meet ups, Meals and drinks, LGBTory have attended many Gay Pride events and HIV vigils across the country.[24]
As well as attending more LGBT Prides and vigils than ever before 2010 was a big year for LGBTory. 2010 saw LGBTory hold a drinks reception at Conservative Spring Forum in Brighton this year. At Conservative Party Conference LGBTory held a joint fringe event with Stonewall that was extremely heavy attended. LGBTory have also contacted every Conservative MP since the General Election, attended the Prime Ministers LGBT Downing Street Garden reception and played a key roll in the successful Conference Pride 2010 (Held in Nightingales, Birmingham).
Tuesday 6 October 2009 during Conservative Party Conference saw LGBTory host'Conference Pride'[25][26] in Manchester. Conference Pride was held in SPIRIT nightclub on Manchester's Canal Street[27] with a live performance from Angie Brown[28] and a free cocktail on the door. Tickets at the cost of £15[27] were available both on the internet and at the Party Conference ticket booth. The event started at 2130 and finished at 0300 the next morning. Conference Pride sold filled the capacity of the nightclub and was attended by several high profile Members of Parliament and Conservatives. The event also had extremist anti-gay Christian groups protesting outside as well as an anti-Conservative Party protest group which consisted of the Queer Youth Network and Reclaim the Scene as well as other anti-Tory individuals.[29][30]