Boris Johnson Resigns Amid MP's Same-Sex Sexual Abuse Scandal
resigned as leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party and therefore will be replaced as prime minister, leaves a largely negative record on LGBTQ+ rights.He has supported marriage equality but not embraced transgender rights, and written articles with homophobic and racist slurs that he claimed were satirical.
And gay members of his government have accused him of creating an “atmosphere of hostility” toward LGBTQ+ people.Johnson announced his departure Thursday in the wake of scandals over ethics violations throughout his administration and the resignations of about 60 members of his government.
The last straw appeared to be accusations of sexual assault against Christopher Pincher, his deputy chief whip, tasked with assuring members of Parliament toe the party line.Johnson was criticized for failing to take action right away against Pincher, who eventually resigned.
Johnson also claimed he didn’t know about previous allegations of sexual misconduct by Pincher against other men, and that was “the final lie that brought down the pyramid of untruths that sustained Boris Johnson’s premiership,” Rosa Prince wrote in a commentary piece for CNN.Johnson has been prime minister since 2019 and was previously mayor of London, a member of Parliament, and a journalist.
