S1E7: Chris Smith
The first openly gay Cabinet Minister
Politician and former government minister. The world’s first openly gay cabinet minister and first MP to acknowledge that he is HIV positive.
When Lord Chris Smith stood in a crowded hall in Rugby and said, “My name is Chris Smith... and I’m gay,” British politics took a giant leap forward. In this episode, we trace the path from coming out to the Blair-era equality reforms that reshaped life for LGBTQ people in the UK.
Chris discusses tabloid hostility, the response of his constituents, and the small moments that mark a cultural shift. He walks us through some of his defining achievements in government: equalising the age of consent, repealing Section 28, ending bans in the armed forces, securing goods and services equality, and the arrival of civil partnerships. He shows how ordinary people coming out moved public opinion faster than politicians or headlines.
Chris also shares how he chose to reveal his HIV status years later, inspired by a speech from Nelson Mandela.
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This episode was hosted by Jonathan Chambers and James Alexander
Editing by Hannah Stewart
Music: Mystify created by AlterEgo