Renowned Drag Race legend Bimini Bon Boulash delivered a scathing critique of the Conservative Party, accusing them of exploiting transgender issues for political gain. This condemnation comes in response to Rishi Sunak’s controversial anti-trans comments made at his party’s recent conference. Sunak’s statements, which downplayed transgender identity, ignited widespread criticism.
During the Conservative conference, Prime Minister Sunak asserted that British people are being “bullied” into accepting the idea that “people can be any sex they want to be,” further simplifying his stance with the assertion, “A man is a man and a woman is a woman. That’s just common sense.”
On the stage of the Werq The World event at London’s O2, Bimini Bon Boulash passionately addressed the issue, decrying the Tories’ use of transgender individuals as a “political football.” Bimini challenged the party’s actions, declaring, “How dare you use the lives of people as political cattle, political football, for your own agenda? Creating this fear-mongering and hysteria against trans people is disgusting.”
Bimini, visibly emotional, shared a personal connection to the cause: “One of my brothers is trans… we are growing up at a time where division is worse than ever against people that aren’t a f**king threat to anyone, they just want to live their lives.” Bimini also criticized those who claim to be “protecting women” by opposing transgender rights, suggesting that attention should be directed toward the 56 MPs reportedly facing sexual misconduct claims.
In a defiant call for LGBTQ+ allies to stand united, Bimini concluded, “Rishi Sunak, f**k you. We need to celebrate difference and understand compassion as opposed to hate and division.”
Bimini Bon Boulash’s speech follows a recent admission by the Home Office, acknowledging that hate crimes against trans people have surged, partly due to anti-trans comments made by politicians. According to government statistics, transphobic hate crimes rose by 11 percent in England and Wales, with 4,732 recorded offenses in the 12 months to March 2023. This alarming increase in hate crimes underscores the urgency of addressing the impact of political rhetoric on marginalized communities and the importance of standing up for transgender rights.