TL;DR
- Andy Burnham has a long history of LGBTQ allyship.
- He opposed Section 28 and supported equal marriage.
- Burnham has faced family tensions over his pro-LGBTQ stance.
- He appointed an LGBTQ adviser and launched an Equality Panel.
- Burnham has publicly defended trans rights and condemned conversion therapy.
Fresh off his triumphant return to Westminster following his Makerfield by-election victory, Andy Burnham is back in the spotlight, and this time, it’s all about his unwavering commitment to LGBTQ rights. Often hailed as the “King of the North,” this former health secretary and mayor of Greater Manchester has spent decades building a reputation as a socially liberal politician who doesn’t just talk the talk but walks the walk when it comes to equality.
Unlike many public figures whose allyship seems to blossom only when the winds of public opinion shift, Burnham’s LGBTQ+ receipts date back to the 1980s. He was on the front lines, marching against Margaret Thatcher’s notorious Section 28 legislation, which prohibited the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools. This early activism helped shape his political outlook, and he later voted to repeal this draconian law, effectively helping to dismantle one of the most anti-LGBTQ+ pieces of legislation in modern British history.
Burnham’s pro-LGBTQ record doesn’t stop there. He voted in favor of the Civil Partnership Act, granting same-sex couples legal recognition for the first time, and supported regulations that outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation in the provision of goods and services. He even championed extending IVF rights to lesbian couples, proving that his commitment to equality knows no bounds.
Of course, standing up for LGBTQ rights hasn’t always been easy for Burnham. He has openly acknowledged that his advocacy has caused tensions within his own Catholic family. But rather than back down, he boldly urged Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic Church to modernize their approach to homosexuality and same-sex relationships. Now that’s what we call courage!
In a significant move, Burnham voted for the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act, helping to legalize equal marriage in England and Wales. During his Labour leadership campaign, he proudly declared, “I’ve voted for everything,” showcasing his steadfast commitment to LGBTQ rights.
When critics questioned whether he had been vocal enough on LGBTQ issues during his leadership campaign, former Labour parliamentary candidate Kevin McKeever came to his defense, asserting that Burnham had “no case to answer” and highlighting his impressive voting record.
Burnham didn’t stop at just voting; he took action by appointing former Lord Mayor of Manchester Carl Austin-Behan as his LGBTQ+ adviser, believed to be the first role of its kind attached to a metro mayor. Austin-Behan, who was dismissed from the RAF simply for being gay, has been a crucial ally in Burnham’s administration, which launched Greater Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Equality Panel, committing to tackle inequalities affecting lesbian, gay, bi, and trans residents.
Moreover, Burnham has backed reform of the Gender Recognition Act, advocating for a simplified process for trans people to obtain legal recognition. He met with representatives from the LGB Alliance regarding proposed reforms, a move that drew criticism from some LGBTQ+ groups. However, his office later clarified that Burnham’s support for the trans community has been consistent and unwavering over the years.
In a bold stand, Burnham publicly defended trans inclusion, arguing that trans women should be allowed to use women’s toilets, while dismissing attempts to turn this crucial issue into a divisive culture war. His comments were met with both backlash from gender-critical campaigners and applause from LGBTQ+ activists, proving that standing up for what’s right often comes with its fair share of controversy.
Burnham has also pledged Greater Manchester’s support for ending conversion therapy for all LGBTQ+ individuals and has backed efforts to ban this abhorrent practice. In a powerful moment, he formally apologized for the historic discrimination against LGBTQ+ people by Greater Manchester Police, describing the treatment of gay and trans individuals as “shameful.”
In a world where many politicians pay lip service to LGBTQ rights, Andy Burnham stands out as a true ally. His commitment is not just a seasonal affair; it’s a lifelong dedication to equality that has spanned nearly four decades, often before it was even fashionable to do so. So, while others may just show up for Pride in June, Burnham has been fighting the good fight long before it was trendy. Now that’s the kind of ally we can all get behind!