Ed Miliband: ‘I will fight for gay rights around the world as PM’
By Sam Rigby
Labour party leader Ed Miliband has promised to “fight” for LGBTI rights around the world if he is elected as Prime Minister next year.
Speaking at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester, he also confirmed that he has recruited gay former MEP Michael Cashman as his special envoy for LGBTI rights.
“We’ve made extraordinary progress on lesbian and gay rights over the last 20 years,” Miliband said. “When I think about the transformations, growing up into adulthood? It’s the biggest transformation.
Progress in England and Wales included the legalisation of same-sex marriage in March, but Miliband pointed out that international gay rights need attention.
“We’ve made such progress on equality. But we have to face the fact that internationally things, if anything, are going backwards.
He added: “We can’t just let that happen. We can’t just say that’s okay. The next Labour government will fight to make sure that we fight for our values and human rights all around the world.
“So today I can announce that I am appointing Michael Cashmann, Lord Cashmann, as our envoy on LGBT rights all around the world.”
The next General Election will take place on May 7, 2015.
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