Portrait of Jeremy Corbyn
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Jeremy Corbyn on LGBT Rights

Strong advocate (strong)

TL;DR

Jeremy Corbyn has historically and consistently positioned himself as a strong supporter and advocate for comprehensive LGBT rights, both domestically and internationally.

Key Points

  • He pledged in 2017 that a Labour government would "actively update" the national curriculum to reflect the fight for gay rights.

  • His past activism included working to physically defend a Gay Centre from National Front fascists in the 1970s.

  • He has explicitly connected LGBT rights with other social justice causes, stating that LGBT rights are refugee rights and must be defended together in July 2023.

Summary

Jeremy Corbyn has long presented himself as a steadfast supporter of LGBT rights, tracing his activism back to his time as a local councillor in the 1970s when he worked to physically defend a Gay Centre from far-right groups. This record of support is frequently cited by his allies as evidence of his commitment to equality for all sexual orientations and gender identities. For example, he has pledged that a future Labour government would actively update the national curriculum to reflect the history and struggles of the gay rights movement, aiming for greater inclusion and awareness among pupils.

His position has faced scrutiny, particularly concerning a comment made at an LGBT History Month event where he referred to being gay or lesbian as a “choice,” a phrase seen by some critics as aligning with discredited ideologies used to persecute the community. Despite this specific phrasing being described as a "blunder" by some, supporters argue that his overall voting record and decades of campaigning against discrimination and for equality demonstrate a clear, positive stance. Furthermore, he has linked LGBT rights to broader human rights struggles, asserting that the defense of LGBT people is integral to the defense of all humanity.

Key Quotes

“Our defence of you is a defence of all of humanity and the right of people to practise the life they want to practise, rather than be criminalised, brutalised and murdered, simply because they chose to be gay, they chose to be lesbian, they were LGBT in any form.”

“As Labour leader and a future Prime Minister I would be committed to standing up for LGBT communities, both at home and abroad. It's a basic issue of principle: everyone has the right be treated equally and with respect.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Jeremy Corbyn is a long-standing advocate for LGBT rights, citing decades of campaigning against discrimination and for equality. He has historically stressed that equality is a basic issue of principle and has pledged to support the community at home and abroad.

Yes, he faced criticism in 2017 for a public comment where he used the phrase that nobody should be persecuted for having 'chosen' to be gay or lesbian. While some interpreted this as downplaying the innate nature of sexual orientation, supporters often defended it as a misstatement within an otherwise eloquent speech.

While a past comment caused controversy, his historical record, including his voting record and decades of activism since the 1970s, suggests a consistent commitment to LGBT equality. His more recent statements continue to link the defense of LGBT rights to broader social justice.

Sources7

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.