One of Drag Race UK‘s queens has been forced to defend her political stance.
Baga Chipz, who is one of the contestants for very first RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, has been forced to defend a pro-Conservative op-ed she wrote for a magazine back in 2017, during the General Election.
In the piece, she wrote, that former Prime Minister Theresa May had “proved to be a capable politician, always on the ball and never at risk of having a ‘Diane Abbott’ moment”.
The piece was unearthed by fans of the show, some of whom were quick to condemn Chipz as a “Tory Queen”.
You can just tell Baga Chipz is going to do Theresa May or Maggie Thatcher for Snatch Game. #DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/twwZHEX9cm
— Joshua Zitser (@mrjoshz) August 21, 2019
However, Baga Chipz was quick to confirm that she was actually a “life-long labour supporter” but wrote the piece because she wasn’t a fan of Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn.
She pointed out his “record on antisemitism, his support for the IRA and homophobic terror groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, his support for brutal dictatorships in Venezuela and Cuba”.
In the piece, titled “Why Vote Conservative” for scene magazine Boyz, she wrote,
“As a member of the LGBTQI community, I often get asked about Theresa May’s voting record on gay rights, and I understand the concerns,
“But just as Hillary Clinton changed her stance, so has Mrs May. Not only has she voted for every LGBT reform in parliament in the last decade but she was instrumental in pushing marriage equality.”
“I am not a Tory”
Defending her 2017 stance, Chipz took to Twitter to write, “I am not a Tory. I’m actually a lifelong labour supporter. I supported Theresa May in the last election as I’m not a fan of Jeremy Corbyn.. was 4 years ago hun.. one is allowed to change ones views.
— Baga Chipz MBE (@ChipShopBird) August 21, 2019
How does Theresa May’s Voting Record on LGBT+ issues stand?
Although more recently Theresa May’s voting record has leaned to pro-LGBT+ rights here past actions saw her vote in favour of Section 28, in a GAYUK analysis May only achieved a 29.6% LGBT+ friendly rating. We noted, “Ms May is what we’d call an evolved Minister on LGBT+ and gay rights. Prior to 2004 she systematically voted against the rights of gay people in the UK. Then we see a 180-degree change in her voting pattern, although she did have a blip in 2007 when she failed to vote on the Discrimination on the grounds of sexuality law. Since the beginning of this decade, she has voted positively for the LGBT+ community.”
Theresa May
8 votes for, 10 votes against, 9 absences, between 2002–2014
MAJOR YES VOTES: 5
2003: Civil partnerships.
2013: Same-sex marriage. (Feb)
2013: Same-sex marriage. (May)
2014: Enabling the courts to deal with proceedings for the divorce of, or annulment of the marriage of, a same-sex couple.
2014: Making same-sex marriage available to armed forces personnel outside the UK.
MAJOR NO VOTES: 2
1998: Equalising the age of consent.
2002: Allowing gay couples to adopt children.
MAJOR ABSENT VOTES: 3
2003: Repeal a ban on the promotion of homosexuality in schools. Section 28.
2004: Allow Marriages to Remain Valid If They Become a Same-Sex Marriage.
2007: Discrimination on the grounds of sexuality.
Rating: 29.6%
Chipz has now said that she’d vote Liberal Democrat.
