Scottish Secretary Becomes the First UK Government Minister to Come Out as Gay (Statement)

Posted by Odinaka on Wed 13th Jan, 2016 - tori.ng

In a shocking statement, a British Conservative cabinet minister has today, come out as gay, a decision he described as 'one of the most important of my life.'

Scottish solicitor, Conservative politician and UK Government Minister, serving as Secretary of State for Scotland since 2015, David Gordon Mundell MP, has made a shocking revelation on his website in a post headlined "New year, new start!."

The 53-year-old father of three, who is divorced, officially announced that he is gay. Below is what he wrote concerning his new status;

"Over time, I came to understand that, for me, the only way to be truly happy on a personal level is to acknowledge in public as well as in private, who I am. I have already set out my political priorities for the year and now I am setting out my personal one.

Having taken one of the most important decisions of my life and resolved to come out publically as gay in 2016, I just want to get on with it, and now, just like that, I have said it.

How can it be both so easy and so hard to say a few short words? In the end, it took just a couple of taps on a keyboard, yet at some points, in my mind, it was going to be harder than standing for election, speaking in the House of Commons or being cross-examined on television.

I still cannot fully rationalise such feelings, but I know they are not uncommon, particularly in men of my age. Of course, everybody who gets to this point, has had their own journey.

I have certainly been on mine - conflicting emotions, of doubts and fears, but ultimately positive and uplifting, with an unstoppable direction of travel. I so admire the many people, young and old, who are doing this every day, uncertain of the reaction. I have been very fortunate and couldn't have had more love and support from my family and friends.

However, making this public is something I have had to do myself. I don't know what the wider reaction will be, but I know it's the right thing for me to do.

Other than the intensely personal and positive difference it makes to me, and the way I can live my life, my hope is that my coming out doesn't change anything else about how I go about my work or how people treat me.

Gender and sexuality should make no difference whether you are a Cabinet Minister or in any other walk of life and I hope that I can, in my own way, reinforce that message."