Amber Rudd has been made equalities chief as LGBT reforms remain in limbo

Britain's Home Secretary Amber Rudd leaves 10 Downing street in London on January 8, 2018. British Prime Minister Theresa May began a major reshuffle of her cabinet by replacing the chairman of her Conservative Party, ahead of more ministerial changes expected later today. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, has taken over as equalities chief.

Justine Greening, the most senior out politician in the country, was dramatically sacked yesterday as Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities.

She was offered a move to another role by Prime Minister Theresa May – but quit the government rather than allow herself to be moved out of the job.

Britain's Home Secretary Amber Rudd arrives at 10 Downing street in London on January 8, 2018. British Prime Minister Theresa May began a major reshuffle of her cabinet by replacing the chairman of her Conservative Party, ahead of more ministerial changes expected later today. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS        (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

(Getty)

The PM has announced that Rudd will fold the crucial equalities brief into her Home Office responsibilities.

The sacking of Greening – who gave an emotive speech after winning a PinkNews Award last year – throws ongoing key initiatives on LGBT rights into uncertainty.

She had been the driving force behind plans for LGBT-inclusive sex education and gender recognition reform.

Just last month, the now-former Education Secretary launched a consultation on the future of sex and relationship education in schools.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 18: Joint winner of the Politician of the Year award, Justine Greening, Secretary of State for Education, speaks on stage during the Pink News Awards 2017 held at One Great George Street on October 18, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)

(Getty)

The consultation was aimed at “inviting views on age-appropriate content” on LGBT issues, as well as on mental wellbeing and staying safe online.

LGBT-inclusive sex education will now be an issue for the new Education Secretary Damian Hinds.

By moving back to the Home Office, the Government Equality Office has now moved department 11 times since its creation in 1997.

Advertisement Remove ads


Rudd, who has been Home Secretary since 2016, has a record of consistently voting in favour of same-sex marriage and gay rights.

But it is not known how fervently Rudd will pursue Greening’s goals – particularly in terms of gender recognition reform – as she takes over the brief.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 09:  Home Secretary Amber Rudd arrives as goverment ministers attend the first Cabinet meeting of the year at 10 Downing Street on January 9, 2018 in London, England.  Theresa May's reshuffled cabinet meets for the first time today.  Justine Greening quit the government last night after being moved from Education, she is replaced by Damian Hinds.  Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's role has been extended to include social care, Esther McVey becomes Work and Pensions Secretary and Karen Bradley replaces James Brokenshire as Northern Ireland Secretary.  (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

(Getty)

On her website, Rudd has written that she was “pleased that the Government announced it will keep issues such as gender self-declaration under consideration.

“The Gender Recognition Act will also be reviewed in order to see whether improvements can be made to streamline and de-medicalise the gender recognition process.

Britain's Home Secretary Amber Rudd leaves number 10 Downing Street in central London on December 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS        (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

(Getty)

“As a country, we have come a long way in terms of lesbian, gay and bisexual equality. I now want to see the same national determination for transgender people,” she added.

She has taken several steps to protect the LGBT community in Britain and raised awareness for HIV/AIDS treatment when she took an HIV test in November.

Britain's Home Secretary Amber Rudd leaves 10 Downing street in London on January 8, 2018. British Prime Minister Theresa May began a major reshuffle of her cabinet by replacing the chairman of her Conservative Party, ahead of more ministerial changes expected later today. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS        (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

(Getty)

That made her the most senior minister to ever publicly take the test in Britain.

Rudd also wrote for PinkNews in July, ahead of Pride in London, emphasising that “we need to ensure hate crimes are tackled”.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 08:  Current Home Secretary, Amber Rudd arrives at 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister Theresa May Reshuffles her cabinet on January 8, 2018 in London, England. Today's Cabinet reshuffle is Theresa May's third since becoming Prime Minister in July 2016 and was triggered after she sacked first secretary of state and close friend Damian Green before Christmas.  (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

(Getty)

As Home Secretary, she has also employed terrorism laws to ban the homophobic, neo-Nazi white supremacist group National Action from entering Britain.

She even won a sexual health poetry competition, two years before she became a Tory MP.

Britain's Home Secretary Amber Rudd leaves 10 Downing Street after a pre-budget meeting of the cabinet in London, on November 22, 2017.  Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond will present the government's annual Autumn budget to Parliament later on November 22. / AFP PHOTO / Ben STANSALL        (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

(Getty)

In a post on her site entitled “Sexual Offences Act 2003 and Transgender People,” Rudd wrote that “more must be done to help transgender people”.

However, she cast doubt on whether trans people who have sex without disclosing their gender history should be criminalised, writing that “each case is considered on its facts and merits”.

Comments (0)

MyPinkNews members are invited to comment on articles to discuss the content we publish, or debate issues more generally. Please familiarise yourself with our community guidelines to ensure that our community remains a safe and inclusive space for all.

Loading Comments