MP Layla Moran, the first openly pansexual Member of Parliament in the UK, has candidly shared the emotional toll of being “forced” to come out in 2020 due to tabloid pressure. Moran, who represents Oxford West and Abingdon, disclosed her pansexuality in January 2020 after being approached by the Mail On Sunday regarding her relationship.
In an interview with Attitude, Moran expressed her ongoing discomfort with the circumstances of her coming out, stating, “I was basically forced into [coming out], and I am a little bit upset about that still.” She reflected on the invasive nature of the experience and the scars it left, leading to her increased wariness of the public eye within Westminster.
Moran, who has a gay brother and sister, explained that she had always been open to the idea of not being straight. However, she only identified with the term pansexual after researching it online. Her journey of self-discovery culminated in a loving relationship with her fiancée, a woman she hadn’t anticipated being her “person” while growing up.
Despite the personal pain she endured, Moran acknowledged the positive impact of her coming out, with constituents and the public sharing their own stories and expressing gratitude for her openness.
Beyond her personal experience, Moran passionately condemned the current wave of anti-trans rhetoric in politics and the media, likening it to historical prejudice against the LGBTQ+ community. She criticized Labour’s retreat on self-identification for trans individuals and affirmed her party’s commitment to standing with the trans community, despite differing views within the Liberal Democratic Party.
Moran has consistently advocated against the exploitation of LGBTQ+ identities for political gain and has been an outspoken critic of anti-trans culture wars, calling them “disgusting.”