Theresa May apologises for voting record on gay rights, saying she has 'developed her view'

Theresa May has apologised for the way she has voted on gay rights in the past and said she has “developed her view” on LGBTQ issues.

The Prime Minister told ITV News she wants to be seen as an ally of the LGBTQ community in the UK and also branded so-called ‘conversion’ therapy an “abhorrent practice”.

In an interview with political correspondent Paul Brand, Mrs May said she way sorry for some of her previous decision concerning gay rights.

She said: “Yes, I have developed my view. I want to be seen as an ally of the LGBT community here in the UK and we want to see an end to practices like conversion therapy which is an abhorrent practice.”

Asked if she had ever prayed for someone to change their sexuality, she said no, adding: “I was shocked that conversion therapy was still going on. I think it’s abhorrent and I think it has no place in modern Britain.”

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The Prime Minister said: “Most people won’t have realised this was still happening and crucially, most people won’t have realised the impact it i having on those people who are subjected to this abhorrent practice.”

She said she wants to see the process of changing someone’s gender ‘de-medicalised’ and the government would be consulting on the issue to: “make sure that we get this right”.

In a tweet following the interview, Brand tweeted: “This is the most relaxed and personal I’ve seen the PM in a while.

“Her voting record isn’t perfect on LGBT issues (as she now admits), but I get the sense this is something she feels pretty comfortable with – she gets it.”

The times Theresa May has voted against LGBT rights as an MP

1998: Voted against reducing the age of consent for homosexual acts from 18 to 16, bringing equality to the the law affecting heterosexual and homosexual acts.

2002: Voted against the Adoption and Children Bill – Suitability of Adopters, which would allow gay couple to adopt a child.

She was absent for a number of votes concerning gay rights since becoming an MP.