Wes Streeting has shared the “unbelievable volume” of homophobic abuse he has received since becoming the first openly gay defence secretary.
The former health secretary said the hatred online was because “people cannot cope with the idea that a gay person might lead the armed forces of the United Kingdom”, as he revealed he had been targeted by more homophobia since taking the role than at any other point in his life.
Appearing on LBC’s All Talk podcast, he said he faced an “unbelievable volume” of abuse, but said he was “proud” of the progress of inclusivity within the armed forces.
“I have experienced more online homophobia in the last three weeks than I have in my entire life,” he told the podcast hosted by Iain Dale.
“Unbelievable volume – because people cannot cope with the idea that a gay person might lead the armed forces of the United Kingdom.”
He added: “I’m proud of the fact that in my lifetime we’ve gone from gay people not being allowed to serve in the military to a gay Defence Secretary.
“And in my first week, someone in the MoD said to me, ‘you know, as a gay man, I’m really proud that we have our first gay defence secretary, and it means a lot to many of us who remember the bad old days’. So I was quite touched by that.”
Between 1967 and 2000, gay people were banned from the army, navy, and air force.
Those in the armed forces suspected of being gay were subjected to brutal interrogation and bullying, and forced out of service, often with long-term impacts on their life and careers.
LGBT+ ex-servicemen and women who suffered historical mistreatment have until December 12 to apply for a financial redress scheme and have been urged to come forward.
Speaking at the Edinburgh Fringe earlier this month, Mr Streeting noted that while his appointment “almost entirely unremarked upon in the media”, the online reaction has been starkly different.
Despite the negativity, he views the position as a chance to demonstrate “strength” and “challenge this sort of stereotype that clearly persists in dark corners of the internet”.
Mr Streeting served as health secretary under Sir Keir Starmer, before resigning in May this year, telling the then-prime minister he had “lost confidence” in him.
