As it stands, we are faced with a choice of Rishi Sunak, the previous chancellor of the exchequer and one of the cronies of Boris Johnson. Or the current equalities minister – Liz Truss. This is a huge decision, and although the general public will not get an input in the outcome it is worth exploring their LGBT voting record. While this is a matter of importance to the general public, this is not a matter which concerns Conservative party members, with party membership increasingly becoming older, less diverse and more right-wing it is fair to say LGBT rights are not on the agenda for the Truss v Sunak battle while they attempt to appease Tory members.

Let’s weigh up their LGBT record…

She has consistently voted for same-sex marriage and equal gay rights and was one of 117 tories to vote in favour of marriage equality in 2013.

Vowed to bring an end to conversion therapy in 2021, claiming that the reform brought by Theresa May 3 years prior has ‘the end in sight’.

While her voting record and commitment to ending conversion therapy are all positives this appears to be a case of empty words…

Truss has faced criticism for failing to ban conversion therapy despite promising legislation for years prior. This is thought to have been influenced by Boris Johnson and there may be hope for eventually banning conversion therapy if Truss were to become the new PM.

She scrapped reforms to the Gender Recognition Act which would have streamlined the process for trans people to change their gender legally.

This is a continuous theme as Truss repeatedly attacks the trans community…

In an attempt to appease Tory members, she told an audience in Leeds that a “woman is a woman”. Clearly trans rights are not on the agenda for the tory members deciding the future PM.

This phrasing seemingly categorises Truss into a growing movement known as ‘gender critical’ where sex is deemed to be biological and should not be fluid in the way gender identity is.

Político reported earlier this week that younger members within the Conservative party are skeptic of her ability to protect LGBT rights, citing that in her almost three years as equalities minister she has done extremely little to protect and advance the rights of minorities.

Truss may have voted in favour of same-sex marriage, but shortfalls in her capability arise particularly in regard to trans rights.

When analysing Sunak’s position it is worth noting that as chancellor of the exchequer he has less involvement with LGBTQ+ rights than Truss will have (naturally as Equalities minister!).

Despite this, Sunak has made his anti-trans position fairly clear…

An Anti-Trans sentiment is shared by Truss’ opponent. Rishi publicly pledged to the Mail online that he would ‘protect women’s rights’ from ‘gender neutral language which erases women’. This appears to be a anti-trans attack shielded by his concerns for women, we all know what you are doing mr Sunak! Despite this, Sunak will continue to appeal to cis women as advised by Tory strategists on the back of a failure by Sir Kier Starmer to define a ‘woman’ which has alienated female Labour voters.

Sunak has vowed to protect women’s rights on Twitter; stating that if he becomes PM he will ‘protect women’s rights and ensure women and girls enjoy the same freedom most males take for granted in feeling safe from assault and abuse.’

However his protection will seemingly extend only to cis women, claiming that biology is ‘fundamental’ when asked about issues such as restrooms and sport. Backing Boris who complained of trans women competing in women’s sport.

When speaking to LGBT+ Conservatives he supported the goal to end HIV transmission by 2030, yet he was condemned by HIV activists in 2021 when he failed to finance the HIV Action Plan.

When asked about transphobia within the Conservative party, he claimed “Prejudice against trans people is wrong”. The Conservative party is clearly a transphobic institution considering how trans rights (or lack of!) have become a major spectacle in debates between Sunak and Truss as they try to appeal to members.

Whatever the outcome of the leadership contest will be, it will be unlikely to bear a positive transformation for the queer community in the UK…