Ellen Murray – 2021 Resignation from LGBT Advisory Panel

The letter of resignation written by Ellen Murray, a member of the Government’s LGBT Advisory Panel, on 11 March 2021.

Dear Secretary of State,

I write to you today to tender my resignation from the UK Government’s LGBT Advisory Panel with immediate effect. I do this with some sadness, but more with frustration at the government’s responses to calls to prohibit conversion therapy, its ongoing treatment of LGBT refugees and its participation in the worsening culture war on trans rights issues in the national press.

Repeating the concerns of my colleagues who have also resigned, the government’s appallingly poor response to conversion therapy, the abandonment of trans people’s rights to healthcare and recognition before the law, and the continued persecution of refugees fall well below what LGBT people should expect from those claiming to represent us in public office.

It has become a great surprise to me personally that I can now recognise the Northern Ireland government as more willing to meaningfully progress LGBT people’s rights than the UK Government, a change I did not see coming so soon.

I fully support my colleagues Jayne Ozanne and James Morton and wish the remaining members of the Panel the best of luck. I urge you and your ministerial colleagues to take them seriously and to recognise their expertise.

Yours sincerely,

Ellen Murray

CC Kemi Badenoch MP, Minister for Equalities