Gay Staffers ‘Most Vulnerable’ To Sexual Harassment In UK Parliament: MP
Image: MP Caroline Jokes. Image: Facebook
Gay men working in the UK Parliament are the “most vulnerable” to harassment and abuse, a British Conservative MP has revealed.
Trigger Warning: This story discusses sexual harassment, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.
In an interview with GB News the former Minister of State for Immigration, Caroline Nokes said that gay men are “absolutely terrified of coming forward” due to the taboo nature that surrounds homosexuality. Nokes called for a review of the way incidents are investigated and said new rules are needed to punish those responsible.
Nokes described female victims of harassment as likely to gain sympathy, “There have been some cases where I can think of individuals who’ve harassed both male and female members of staff, and the female member of staff has had all the sympathy” and called it a “fascinating insight into how our psychology works around homosexuality.”
‘Sexual Harassment Is Not About Sex’
Speaking to former Labour MP Gloria De Piero, Nokes said: “I’m convinced that sexual harassment is not about sex, it’s about the exploitation of power from one individual over another.”
She asserted a need to “redress that imbalance” to ensure that young people working in parliament, including women working in parliament and young gay men who she believed, are “the most vulnerable” groups, were given a mechanism “where they know that they’re going to be protected.”
Nokes is the MP for Romsey and Southampton North and the chair of the Women and Equalities Committee. She discussed the culture of harassment at Westminster as one that needed more thorough disciplinary procedures to combat abuse in parliament.
“I’ve long said we should have a much tighter system of discipline, codes of conduct, that the whips from the different political parties should work together to make sure that everybody understands what the rules are,” Nokes said.
Tory MP Accused Of Raping Male Politician
Earlier this year, an allegation of rape against a Tory MP was made by a male politician, 20 years his junior, who was a teenager when they first met.
According to The Telegraph, the unnamed MP was arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault as well as abuse of a position of trust and misconduct in public office. The alleged sexual offences were reported to have been committed between 2002 and 2009, according to the Metropolitan Police.
In July, former deputy chief Chris Pincher resigned from his role and was suspended as a Conservative MP after he was accused of groping two fellow guests at a private members’ club.
Nokes spoke of her witnessing younger people in parliament being subjected to “unwanted advances, who talk about the bullying and harassment that they received” and described it as vital for others to follow suit.
“It’s incumbent upon all of us, wherever we see it happen whether it’s in parliament, whether it’s on the tube, to call it out when you see it,” she said.
You May Also Like
Support the Star Observer… while you still can
LGBTQIA+ media is under threat. Queer content is censored by tech conglomerates who amplify bigotry and push out AI slop — so we receive less financial support than ever.
When our community is muzzled and intolerance intensifies, we need queer media more than ever. Your donation means we can continue paying queer journalists to write queer news.
Don’t rely on the straight lies of big tech – support Star Observer instead and donate now.
