UK prime minister: UK is the best place in Europe for LGBT rights

David Cameron has said he is “proud” to live in the “best place in Europe” to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

The Conservative Prime Minister made the comments while receiving an honour from De Montfort University, for his work fighting for same-sex marriage.

Echoing the words he first wrote on PinkNews when same-sex marriage became law, he said: “I have long believed in marriage as the bedrock of society and I am proud that in Britain whether you are straight or gay the State will recognise your relationship as equal.

“Together we should be proud to live in a country judged to be the best place in Europe if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans.

“We are a nation that is growing stronger economically because of our long term economic plan. But I hope we can also be a country that is growing stronger socially because we value love and commitment equally.

“I am humbled to see this important moment for our country recognised in this way, and I dedicate this honour to all those who helped to make it happen.”

Though the PM hailing the UK as the “best place in Europe” on LGBT rights, it does not lead across all key legislative areas.

Ireland recently passed a progressive new gender recognition law – which unlike the UK’s, will allow transgender people to self-determine outside of the medical process. Other countries including Denmark and Malta have passed similar legislation.

Additionally, in the UK men who have sex with men must abstain from sex for 12 months in order to give blood – while Italy, Spain and Portugal already have individual risk-based systems which do not discriminate on the grounds of sexuality.

MEPs from Mr Cameron’s Conservative Party have also opposed EU equality legislation that would call for LGBT rights across Europe – branding it “social engineering”.

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