GayLeeds.com has been lucky enough to interview the LGBTory National Chairman, Matthew Sephton.

Here is what he had to say...

When was the LGBTory organisation formed and for what reason?

LGBTory was originally formed in 2007 as a successor organisation to the previous Conservative LGBT group ‘TORCHE’. It was felt by the people who started it that, as there was no longer an LGBT group affiliated to the Conservatives, it was vital one be started, in order to be a bridge between the Conservatives and the LGBT community.

How did you become involved and for what reason?

I had been involved in Conservative politics for a few years and I could see that LGBTory was a group that had to succeed. Although starting off well, the group hadn’t achieved an awful lot and I was determined this had to change. I believe the LGBT community deserve a loud voice in the Conservative Party and that the Conservative Party deserve a loud voice in the LGBT community and so I decided to get involved and subsequently took over as Chairman.

What is your role as Chairman?

As Chairman,I co-ordinate activities across the country and between individuals and the main Party. These include attendance at Pride events, meeting with Government ministers and Conservative MPs and keeping the LGBTory profile high in the media. I chair meetings of officers who come together to decide policy and LGBTory campaigns and activities as well as promote fundraising to enable us to function effectively as a group.

Many LGBT people are strongly opposed to the Conservative Party and think that the party's past record on LGBT rights is appalling. Section 28 is no doubt one of the biggest reasons. What are your thoughts on section 28 and has the party changed in any way since then?

There have always been LGBT people involved in the Conservatives. The world is a different place now and people in all Parties are more open and feel more comfortable in discussing their sexuality generally, whatever their political leanings. What a lot of people forget is that, for example, at the time the infamous Section 28 was passed, Labour Shadow Cabinet Ministers supported its introduction as well as the Conservative Government.

By contrast, the Conservatives now have the biggest number of openly-LGBT MPs in Parliament (including one of Leeds’ MPs, Stuart Andrew), with three out gay ministers and Parliament's second lesbian MP in Margot James. Last year we had a 'Conference Pride' event at national conference, which was one of the most successful social events at any social events at Party Conference ever, with over 600 attendees and we'll be having the same again this year, with Adam Rickett hosting and Mica Paris performing live. The Conservative Party has changed just as the UK has changed and, although there may still be a few ‘dinosaurs’ in the Party who are opposed to anything modern or innovative, the mainstream Party under David Cameron as leader is progressive and dynamic. This is great news for LGBT people and for the LGBT community.

What, if any are the Prime Minsters views regarding LGBT people and our rights?

I have met the Prime Minister on a number of occasions, including at 10 Downing Street, when he became the first-ever Conservative Prime Minister to host an LGBT reception in the run up to the summer of pride events across the country. At this event there were political and charity activists from various parts of the LGBT community as well as Government Ministers, MPs and politicians together with LGBT celebrities. It was a very memorable occasion and one where the Prime Minister was at ease and obviously enjoyed hosting the event.

The Equalities Manifesto, published before the election as part of the Conservative Party’s election manifesto, was given the go-ahead by David Cameron. In this were pledges to tackle homophobic bullying in schools, end historic convictions for consensual gay sex and use our influence abroad, especially in the Commonwealth, to help change homophobic and outdated legislation. I think these actions show clearly that the Prime Minister is committed to LGBT rights and to the LGBT community.

What was it like for you coming out as someone with strong political links?

Coming out in a political arena was not an issue at all for me. It was no more difficult than coming out to family and friends actually. There are a large number of openly-gay activists in the Conservative Party (to the extent, at times, that you wonder if anyone in the Party is straight!) and so I’ve been used to associating with gay Conservatives who are comfortable with their sexuality.

Have you had any negative experiences due to being gay in a political arena?

Not in the Conservatives. However, I stood as a Conservative Parliamentary candidate in this year’s General Election and an extremely unpleasant homophobic Independent candidate stood against me and wrote some very distasteful material about me and my sexuality on his blog, to the extent that he was reported to the police by a number of people.

What are your aspirations for LGBTory association?

LGBTory has already been involved in advising the Conservative Party on LGBT issues. We are in contact with all Conservative MPs and MEPs and as many local councillors as possible. We want to expand this work with elected Conservative representatives in order to be the advocates for the LGBT community in the Conservatives, the House of Commons and within Government. We would like to be visible at as many Pride events as possible across the UK as well as working with other LGBT groups to pursue the LGBT agenda in this country as well as in Europe wherever possible.

Anything else that you would like to add?

LGBTory can be contacted via our website – www.lgbtory.co.uk  and can be followed on Twitter – www.twitter.com/lgbtoryuk  

Matthew Sephton
LGBTory Chairman

Gayleeds.com would like to thank Mr Sephton for giving his time so generously in order to give this interview and we would also like to add a special thanks to Matthew Wharton for his kind assistance.