United Kingdom
Jamie Wallis becomes U.K.’s first transgender MP
Prime minister among those who applauded lawmaker
Jamie Wallis made history Wednesday, becoming the first member of the British Parliament to come out as transgender.
Wallis, a conservative representing Bridgend, Wales, released a statement announcing: “I’m trans. Or to be more accurate, I want to be.”
“I’ve been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and I’ve felt this way since I was a very young child,” Wallis, who will continue to use he/him/his pronouns, added.
The 37-year-old legislator confessed he “had no intention of ever sharing this,” imagining he “would leave politics well before I ever said this out loud.” He “arrogantly assumed” he could be an MP and hid his identity until it became too much for him.
The announcement was praised by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other politicians, commending Wallis for his bravery.
“Sharing this very intimate story would have taken an immense amount of courage. Thank you [Jamie Wallis] for your bravery, which will undoubtedly support others,” Johnson tweeted. “The Conservative Party I lead will always give you, and everyone else, the love and support you need to be yourself.”
Hours before Wallis’ statement, Johnson made a “light-hearted joke” about trans people during a Tuesday night dinner among Tory MPs, BBC News reported.
“Good evening ladies and gentleman — or as Keir Starmer would put it, people who are assigned female or male at birth,” Johnson said, referring to Starmer’s decision not to answer whether a woman can have a penis.
In his statement, Wallis detailed a “close call” in 2020 where he said someone “blackmailed me, outed me to my father and sent photographs to other family members.” According to Wallis, that person wanted £50,000 ($65,650) to keep quiet, but the perpetrator later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.
“The police were so supportive, so understanding and on this occasion the system worked,” Wallis said.
Wallis also said he was raped months ago after refusing to have sex with someone he met online who wouldn’t wear a condom.
“I have not been myself since this incident and I don’t think I will ever recover. It is not something you ever forget, and it is not something you ever move on from,” he said.
“Since then things have really taken a tumble. I am not ok,” Wallis said.
Wallis also crashed his car last November, he said, and fled the scene “because I was terrified.”
“I have PTSD and I honestly have no idea what I was doing except I was overcome by an overwhelming sense of fear,” he said.
But Wallis was “reminded of the incredible support those you work with can provide” at the dinner where Johnson reportedly made the joke. “Also, I was reminded how important it is to be yourself,” he added.
The Guardian reported that the prime minister was urged to apologize for his remarks.
“Actions speak louder than words,” said Ben Howlett, a former Conservative MP and chair of an independent LGBTQ commission. “Making a joke at the expense of trans people in private then saying that he supports trans people on social media raises more than an eyebrow. It needs to be called out and he should apologize.”
United Kingdom
Queen Camilla meets with JK Rowling
Edinburgh meeting took place on last day of Pride month
Queen Camilla on Tuesday met with JK Rowling.
The Royal Family on X said the meeting took place at Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The post included a picture of Camilla and Rowling together.
“With a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure, The queen and author JK Rowling have met at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh,” it reads. “Her Majesty and Ms. Rowling discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books and the vital part reading plays in opening doors for future generations.”
📕 With a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure, The Queen and author J.K. Rowling have met at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
Her Majesty and Ms Rowling discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to… pic.twitter.com/Yx1Xy6olqC
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 30, 2026
Rowling over the last decade has emerged as a vocal opponent of transgender rights. Her meeting with Camilla took place on the last day of Pride month.
United Kingdom
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign
Announcement comes after Labour Party election loses, ambassador scandal
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday announced he will step down once his party chooses his successor.
Starmer succeeded Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party in No. 10 Downing St. in 2024.
The Labour Party included a ban on so-called conversion therapy in England and Wales in its elections manifesto. King Charles III in last month’s King Speech that he delivered in the British House of Lords said a transgender-inclusive ban is among the British government’s legislative priorities.
Charles delivered his King’s Speech days after the Labour lost more than 1,000 council seats in local and regional elections. The May 7 vote took place against the backdrop of widespread criticism over Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S., despite his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is seen as the frontrunner to become Labour’s new leader — and the UK’s next prime minister. Burnham was sworn in as an MP in the House of Commons hours after Starmer announced his resignation.
Starmer in his resignation announcement said he expects his successor will be in place before MPs return from their summer recess on Sept. 1.
United Kingdom
UK government makes trans-inclusive conversion therapy ban a legislative priority
King Charles III on Wednesday delivered King’s Speech
King Charles III on Wednesday said a transgender-inclusive ban on so-called conversion therapy in England and Wales is among the British government’s legislative priorities.
“My government will bring forward a bill to speed up remediation for people living in homes with unsafe cladding [Remediation Bill] and a draft bill to ban abusive conversion practices [Draft Conversion Practices Bill],” said Charles in his King’s Speech that he delivered in the British House of Lords.
The government writes the King’s Speech, which outlines its legislative agenda. The British monarch delivers it at Parliament’s ceremonial opening.
“Conversion practices are abuse, and the government will deliver the manifesto commitment to bring forward a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices,” said the government in an addendum to the speech.
Then-Prime Minister Theresa May’s government in 2018 announced it would “bring forward proposals to end the practice of conversion therapy in the U.K.”
Then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government in 2022 said it would support a ban that did not include gender identity. The decision sparked outrage among British advocacy groups, and prompted them to boycott a government-sponsored LGBTQ conference that was ultimately cancelled.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party ahead of the 2024 elections included a conversion therapy ban in its manifesto. Charles delivered the King’s Speech against the backdrop of growing calls for Starmer to resign after the Labour Party lost more than 1,000 council seats in local and regional elections that took place on May 7.
Stonewall, a British advocacy group, on April 30 said the government “has failed to meet its own timeline to publish a draft bill to ban conversion practices.”
“We should not have to wait any longer,” said Stonewall CEO Simon Blake in his group’s statement. “Conversion practices are abuse. LGBTQ+ people do not need fixing or changing. They need to hear and feel that government is going to protect their safety and dignity. Not at some random date in the future. No more delays.”
New book reveals what we can learn from animal sex
Who might replace Lindsey Graham? The contenders and their LGBTQ records
PHOTOS: Westminster Pride
Un terremoto también se vive desde el exilio
PHOTOS: Emerald City Pride
Mr. Henry’s celebrates 60 years of proud inclusivity
It’s good to see some justices standing up to Trump
Egyptian authorities refuse to allow gay cruise to dock in country
Queer media dominates 2026 Emmy nominations
