Equalities Minister Attacks LGBTQ+ Magazine In Parliament

Kemi Badenoch, the Equalities minister, has used her first parliamentary appearance in the role to attack the CEO of Pink News.

Ms. Badenoch accused the founder of PinkNews of wanting to “insult or accuse” her. She also made false claims about the media company’s legal history – the second time the minister has used her government platform single out a critical journalist.

As the Independent reports, the magazine has been highly critical of Ms. Badenoch's record on LGBTQ+ rights, describing her in an article about her appointment as “vehemently anti-trans.”

In a post on social media on Tuesday, PinkNews chief executive Benjamin Cohen citing her abstention on same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland and record on trans rights and said Ms. Badenoch's appointment was one “many LGBTQ+ campaigners feared.”

Asked to respond, the minister did not address any of the specific points, but said, “I'm afraid that this particular individual is someone who uses Twitter as a tool for defamation. He has even been sued by the honourable member of Edinburgh West. What I would like to say, Mr. Speaker, as we do begin a new era of equality, is that the Equality Act is a shield not a sword. It is there to protect people of all characteristics, whether they're young or old, male or female, black or white, gay or straight. We are running a compassionate equality strategy, and we should not be distracted by people who use Twitter as a way to insult or accuse Members of Parliament. Before we come to Prime Minister.”

The minister's claim that the media company’s CEO was sued by the MP for Edinburgh West, Liberal Democrat Christine Jardine, is false.

Approached by the Independent on why Ms. Badenoch made the claim, the Government Equalities Office said she had intended to refer to a different MP. However, PinkNews also disputed this account.

“It is disappointing that one of the first actions of the new Minister for Women and Equalities is to use their Parliamentary Privilege to spread misinformation and untruths,” Benjamin Cohen said. “They inaccurately stated that I use 'Twitter as a tool for defamation,' also alleging that “Members of this House” have sued me. This is a disgrace and a complete fabrication, seeing as neither PinkNews nor I have ever been successfully sued by anyone.”

It is understood that Ms. Badenoch intended to refer to the MP for Edinburgh South West, rather than Edinburgh West in her comments about PinkNews having been sued. Mr. Cohen said that this was also “untrue.”

“I would have hoped that a cabinet minister would understand the important legal distinction between a threat and actually bringing a court case against an individual or organization,” he said.

“More than 100 million people around the world consume PinkNews produced content each month, with the majority of our revenue generated overseas. It is a shame that in her other role as International Trade Secretary, the Minister would choose to attack this British success story with false claims in this manner. I await a formal apology from the Minister, as well as for her to correct the Parliamentary record.”

During Ms. Badenoch’s previous tenure as an equalities minister she met with anti-trans campaigners, while the government ditched planned reforms of the gender recognition act and a full ban on LGBTQ+ conversion therapy. She also put up homemade signs sex-segregating unisex toilets at the venue of her failed leadership campaign launch ..

Read related myGwork articles here:

All Four Tory Leader Frontrunners Support Trans Conversion Therapy Ban, Says Ex-Equalities Minister

Government’s Most Senior LGBTQ+ Minister Resigns Over Boris Johnson’s “Indefensible” Actions

Opposition Slams UK Equalities Minister For Failing To Set Up New LGBTQ+ Advisory Panel

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