Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has reported experiencing an "unbelievable volume" of online homophobic abuse since taking up his post, stating it has surpassed the amount he encountered throughout his entire life.
Streeting suggested that the surge in animosity stems from some individuals' inability to accept an openly gay person leading the United Kingdom's armed forces. "People cannot cope with the idea that a gay person might lead the armed forces of the United Kingdom," he said in an interview on the Iain Dale All Talk podcast at the Edinburgh Fringe.
He noted that his historic appointment as the first openly gay defence secretary had been largely uncommented upon in mainstream media, which he viewed as progress. "Being the first openly gay defence secretary has been almost entirely unremarked upon in the media," Streeting stated. "And I think, 'great, here we are in the third decade of the 21st century it doesn't matter, brilliant'. But of course online it matters to a lot of people."
Streeting plans to use his position to challenge persistent stereotypes. "I have experienced more online homophobia in the last three weeks than I have in my entire life," he said. "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."
Despite the online abuse, Streeting also shared positive feedback from within the Ministry of Defence. He recalled one individual telling him, "As a gay man, I'm really proud that we have our first gay defence secretary - It means a lot to many of us who remember the bad old days." Streeting described himself as touched by this sentiment.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in the UK in 1967, but a ban on LGBTQ+ individuals serving in the armed forces remained in place until 2000.