UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting faces homophobic abuse online

Wes Streeting, the United Kingdom's first openly gay defence secretary, has described an "unbelievable volume" of homophobic abuse directed at him online since taking office last month. He stated that the abuse far exceeds anything he has experienced in his entire life, stemming from people's inability to accept a gay individual leading the nation's armed forces.

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I have experienced more online homophobia in the last three weeks than I have in my entire life.

Streeting contrasted this online backlash with the relatively muted media reaction to his historic appointment. He expressed pride that in the 21st century, such a position is no longer a major news item, signifying progress. However, he acknowledged that for many online, his sexuality remains a point of contention. He emphasized the significant societal shift from a time when gay individuals were banned from military service to having an openly gay defence secretary.

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Unbelievable volume – because people cannot cope with the idea that a gay person might lead the armed forces of the United Kingdom.

Reflecting on the positive reception from some within the Ministry of Defence, Streeting shared an anecdote from his first week where a colleague expressed pride in his appointment, remembering the "bad old days" when LGBTQ+ personnel faced discrimination. This personal connection underscored the progress made.

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Great, here we are in the third decade of the 21st century and it doesn’t matter, brilliant. But of course, online it matters to a lot of people.

Despite the online vitriol, Streeting sees his role as an opportunity to demonstrate strength, both personally and for the broader LGBT community. He highlighted the growing visibility and confidence within the community, citing examples from service personnel and athletes. Streeting aims to challenge the stereotypes that he believes still linger in "dark corners of the internet," asserting that being openly gay in Britain is now an ordinary aspect of life, a testament to the community's resilience and strength.

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And I am proud of the fact that in my lifetime we’ve gone from gay people not being able to serve in the military to a gay defence secretary.