TL;DR
- Keir Starmer resigns as Labour leader after declining council seats.
- He had a mixed record on LGBTQ+ issues during his tenure.
- Starmer previously supported trans rights but faced backlash.
- His comments on biological women and trans women sparked controversy.
- Calls for a ban on conversion therapy remain unfulfilled.
In a dramatic turn of events, Keir Starmer has officially resigned as the leader of the Labour Party, leaving many in the LGBTQ+ community questioning his legacy. Starmer, who once seemed like a beacon of hope for LGBTQ+ rights, announced his decision outside 10 Downing Street on June 22, stating, “I will resign as leader of the Labour Party.” He will remain in the Prime Minister’s seat until a successor is found, with nominations slated to open on July 9.
The resignation follows a dismal performance in the local elections, where Labour lost over 1,220 councillors, while Reform UK made significant gains. Despite earlier assertions that he would not step down, the mounting pressure proved too great.
Starmer’s history with LGBTQ+ issues is a mixed bag. Before taking office, he was lauded for his work with the Human Dignity Trust, which advocates against laws that criminalize LGBTQ+ individuals across the Commonwealth. At the 2019 PinkNews Awards, he proudly stated that this was his “proudest” work.
As an MP, he voted in favor of LGBTQ+ equality and championed mandatory LGBT-inclusive education in schools. He even fought for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals to serve openly in the military. In a 2021 interview with PinkNews, he acknowledged the discrimination faced by trans individuals, asserting that Labour was committed to updating the Gender Recognition Act to allow for self-declaration.
However, his tenure as Prime Minister has not been without controversy. In 2024, he made headlines for stating that trans women who had not undergone gender-affirming surgery should not have access to female-only spaces. His assertion, “They shouldn’t,” raised eyebrows and sparked outrage among LGBTQ+ advocates.
Starmer appeared to backtrack on his previous support for trans rights, claiming, “I’m not in favour of ideology being taught in our schools on gender.” This statement came after a Supreme Court ruling that defined a woman as a “biological woman,” which Starmer echoed, stating, “The Supreme Court judgement has made clear that when looking at the Equality Act, a woman is a biological woman.”
As of February 2026, under his leadership, trans youth have faced barriers in accessing new prescriptions for puberty blockers, a move that has alarmed many advocates. Starmer had previously promised a full ban on conversion therapy, yet as of May 2026, such practices remain legal in the UK.
As the Labour Party prepares for a new leader, the LGBTQ+ community is left to ponder what Starmer’s resignation means for their rights and representation. Will the next leader continue the fight for equality, or will they retreat into the shadows of indecision? Only time will tell.