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
Grindr settles UK lawsuit over claims it shared users’ personal information
Plaintiffs allege gay hookup company disclosed HIV status to third parties
Grindr has agreed to pay £26 million ($35.24 million) to settle a lawsuit in the UK over allegations it shared users’ HIV status and other personal information with third parties.
The BBC on Monday reported a lawsuit was filed in the High Court of England and Wales in 2024. A class action lawsuit with more than 11,000 plaintiffs was later filed in the U.S.
Grindr in a U.S. Security and Exchange Commission filing notes the California-headquartered company as part of the settlement it reached on Sept. 2 will pay £13.0 million ($17.62 million) “to the counterparties” by Dec. 31, 2026, and another £13.0 million ($17.62 million) by March 31, 2027.
“As previously disclosed, in April 2025, Grindr Inc. and Grindr LLC, its indirect and wholly-owned operating subsidiary (collectively, ‘Grindr’), were served with proceedings in the High Court of England and Wales, which proceedings were originally issued in April 2024, brought on behalf of UK Grindr users from a period up to early 2020 alleging violations of UK privacy laws,” reads the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission filing.
“On Sept. 2, 2026, Grindr resolved the above-described UK group action related to historical data practices before 2020, when Grindr was owned and controlled by the Chinese conglomerate Kunlun,” it continues. “The settlement includes no findings or admission of liability. While Grindr disputes the allegations, it recognizes and acknowledges the distress and loss of trust expressed by some of its UK users regarding that pre-2020 period.”
The filing further notes Grindr in 2020 “was sold to new owners and appointed new management” and in 2022 became a publicly listed company on the New York Stock Exchange.
“Since 2020 Grindr has overhauled its privacy program with a keen focus on the unique needs of its community,” reads the filing. “Grindr is and remains a safe space for users, committed to transparency, user control, and responsible data practices.”
A Grindr spokesperson in the UK on Tuesday referred the Washington Blade to the filing for comment on the settlement.
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.
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