The announcement that David Cameron has been named “ally of the year” by a gay publication has sparked a fierce backlash from members of the LGBTQ community.
Cameron’s receipt of the PinkNews award was welcomed by many at a ceremony in London on Wednesday, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn even paying tribute to the former Prime Minister.
However, the decision prompted a passionate response from others who were incensed by Cameron’s award.
Graphic designer Jake Johnstone blasted the former Tory MP for the effect his government had on public services relied upon by the gay community.
Johnstone wrote: “I am so angry. This is an absolute fucking disgrace.
“David Cameron voted against gay people adopting. He voted against that twice.”
He continued: “As Prime Minister, David Cameron cut sexual health services that are vital to the gay community.
“He cut funding into research (for) HIV prevention. He ensured that LGBT migrants are relentlessly chastised when trying to flee a country where they would be killed for being gay, often deporting them for failing to “prove” they identified as LGBT.”
He added: “I could go on and on, really I could.
“David Cameron is no ally of mine. He is no ally of the LGBT community. Pink News can hang their heads in fucking shame. Not in my name.”
Journalist Owen Jones tweeted simply “No” at the announcement.
In a recorded speech, above, Cameron speaks proudly of equal marriage and the role he played in championing it.
He said: “I think it was five years ago this month that I said to a Conservative party conference that I wanted us to champion equal marriage, that I wanted marriage to be there for men to marry men and women to marry women, as well as marriage as we’ve known it. And I’m really proud that we carried it through.”
Jeremy Corbyn attended the awards and reportedly commended Cameron on his role in bringing about gay marriage.
Cameron joins previous winners of the award, including former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, former Labour leader Ed Miliband, and former equalities minister Lynne Featherstone.
PinkNews chief executive Benjamin Cohen told The Huffington Post UK that the former prime minister had been given the award because of his contribution to the introduction of same-sex marriage in England and Wales.
He said: “It’s pretty simple that the previous winners of this award have been Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg, Baroness Lynne Featherstone and Alex Salmond, all for their contribution to introduce same-sex marriage in Great Britain. David Cameron is the obvious person that is missing from that list because he was instrumental in introducing same-sex marriage in England and Wales.
“That’s the reason why he was presented with the award last night at the PinkNews Awards, because of his contribution to introducing same-sex marriage and all of the other people who have received that award in previous years were recognised for exactly the same thing.”
The furore came as controversy brewed over PinkNews’ decision to award the ‘public sector equality award’ to the British army.