February is LGBT+ History Month. As Plymouth’s first out MP, I try and use my platform to highlight LGBT+ issues.

Equality matters to me. After the 2024 General Election there was a record number of out MPs being elected to the House of Commons. But, equality is not inevitable. Change happens when we fight for it, we cannot rest on our successes and must continue to press on.

We must continue to tackle hate when we see it, including online. The online world is increasingly becoming more hostile to our community, and we cannot let bigotry win.

I have campaigned tirelessly to ban the abusive practice of so-called ‘conversion therapy’, something the Conservatives failed to do in 14 years of government. I am proud to back Labour’s manifesto commitment to deliver a full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, while protecting the freedom for people to explore their sexual orientation and gender identity. I’ve also spoken about the need to modernise the Gender Recognition Act while still protecting same sex spaces, another Labour manifesto commitment.

The world can be a dark place sometimes, and we have a long way to go until every LGBT+ young person can be themselves. The way we win against hate is with love and compassion.

In Plymouth, The University of Plymouth have some fantastic resources on trailblazing LGBT+ individuals throughout history, allyship toolkits and the Plymouth LGBT+ Archive. You can also access the Community Archive, in person or online by checking out the Pride in Plymouth website.