Nick has been the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on LGBT Rights since 2021. In this unpaid role he works with FCDO ministers, officials and the UK’s diplomatic missions abroad to promote LGBT rights.
He also chairs the Global Equality Caucus which he launched at the United Nations headquarters in New York during World Pride in June 2019.
The Caucus links more than 500 parliamentarians from around the world and campaigns internationally in support of LGBT causes.
Nick was the first Conservative MP to be openly gay when he was elected. In David Cameron's Shadow Cabinet he led the Party's support for the new offence of inciting hatred on the ground of sexual orientation, and in 2010 he delivered a major speech to the Cato Institute in Washington DC on gay people and politics.
As Minster for Policing & Criminal Justice Nick spoke at Europride in Warsaw in 2010.
After he left government he played a leading role in making the case for equal marriage, launching the Freedom to Marry campaign in 2012 ahead of the successful Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.
Nick chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global LGBT Rights which he helped to launch in 2015. The Group exists to advance LGBT rights around the world. It provides a forum for parliamentarians and organisations across the public, private and third sectors to work together to champion LGBT rights and push back against abuse and discrimination. It principally focuses on international LBGT rights but include domestic issues within its remit.
In March 2019, as Chair of the APPG on Global LGBT Rights, Nick visited New Zealand to meet with the New Zealand Parliament’s LGBT group, which is led by Louisa Wall MP. At the British High Commission in Wellington, Nick recorded a podcast with Louisa to discuss their experiences of being openly LGBT elected politicians.
Nick reflects on IDAHOBIT - the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia
Nick supports a ban on Conversion Therapy and renews his call for a Royal Commission on transgender issues
In a debate in the House of Lords on a Church of England report on families, Nick raises the issue of the Church’s attitude to same-sex marriage.
Nick talks about his meetings with LGBT+ activists Poland and Ukraine and marching alongside them in Warsaw-Kyiv Pride
Nick says the cancellation of Safe To Be Me global equality conference is an act of self-harm by the LGBT lobby, urges calm discussion on the compromises needed on trans issues and warns against a culture war.
Nick sets out the ambition for the global equality conference he is chairing and why he believes the LGBT+ rights agenda matters.
Nick writes that the Government’s Safe To Be Me global equality conference is an important moment to press for change in LGBT+ rights.
Nick discusses his visit to Buenos Aries as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for LGBT+ Rights.
In an interview with infobae, Nick discusses the state of LGBT+ rights in the UK and around the world
In a House of Lords debate Nick challenges amendments which would place trans prisoners in specified accommodation regardless of risk.
Nick previews the UK's global LGBT+ conference, Safe To Be Me, to be held from 29 June to 1 July 2022
Nick welcomes the lead which the UK has taken in bringing LGBT+ people to safety from Afghanistan and asks the Government to continue to give them priority
The government’s new LGBT rights champion has warned his fellow Tories against fighting a culture war, he tells Tom Newton Dunn.
In an interview with the Thompson Reuters Foundation Nick expresses his concern about Hungary’s new anti-LGBT law.
In a Sky News podcast for Pride month, Nick talks about his worries about a ‘culture war’ over trans rights.
Nick's interview with Rob Harkavy of Out News Global about his new position as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on LGBT Rights
In an article published on Openly, Nick argues that Britain can play an important role in tackling violence and discrimination against LGBT+ people
In a speech in the House of Lords Nick sets out why the UK can be a global force for good on LGBT rights
Prime Minister Boris Johnson appoints Lord Herbert of South Downs as the UK’s Special Envoy on LGBT rights.
Nick chairs the UK’s first ever global LGBT conference to tackle inequality around the world and urge countries to take action, to be held in June 2022.
Nick urges the Government to fund brave LGBT organisations in countries where they have to fight for equality.
Nick warns that LGBT young people who are made homeless are especially vulnerable to further abuse.
Nick asks the Government to ensure that policy on transgender issues is guided by evidence and human rights, and to reject a culture war.
Nick asks a question in the House of Lords about the Government's international LGBT+ rights conference which he is chairing
Nick makes his maiden speech in the House of Lords in the Second Reading debate on the Fire Safety Bill
Nick writes in the journal of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association about the work of the Global Equality Caucus
On 4 September, Nick spoke in Westminster Hall about teaching on LGBT community and acceptance in schools.
On 9 July, Nick spoke in the Commons to support the extension of marriage equality to Northern Ireland.
In his article for ThomsonReuters’ Openly, Nick discusses the global situation for LGBT Rights.
