A British Conservative MP has come out as trans and revealed in a highly personal statement he was raped and blackmailed.
Jamie Wallis (37) has been praised for his bravery by British prime minister Boris Johnson after revealing he is “not OK” and being open about having gender dysphoria.
The Bridgend MP said: “I have never lived my truth and I’m not sure how”, adding: “Perhaps it starts with telling everyone.”
It's time. https://t.co/cbt0tKQZuN pic.twitter.com/IUaCjm9PtE
— Jamie Wallis MP (@JamieWallisMP) March 30, 2022
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The message was posted online shortly before 3am, after a gathering for Tory MPs at which Mr Johnson reportedly made a joke about trans issues.
At the dinner, Politico reported Mr Johnson said: “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, or as (Labour leader Sir) Keir Starmer would put it, people who are assigned female or male at birth.”
The row over trans rights has been a key battle in the so-called culture wars between Labour and the Conservatives.
Mr Johnson responded to Mr Wallis’s statement by saying: “Sharing this very intimate story would have taken an immense amount of courage.”
He said the story would “undoubtedly support others” and “the Conservative Party I lead will always give you, and everyone else, the love and support you need to be yourself”.
Sharing this very intimate story would have taken an immense amount of courage. Thank you @JamieWallisMP for your bravery, which will undoubtedly support others.
The Conservative Party I lead will always give you, and everyone else, the love and support you need to be yourself. https://t.co/Y7VjQOMgkO— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 30, 2022
In his statement, Mr Wallis said: “I’m trans. Or to be more accurate, I want to be.
“I’ve been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and I’ve felt this way since I was a very young child. I had no intention of ever sharing this with you. I always imagined I would leave politics well before I ever said this out loud.
“There was a close call in April 2020 when someone blackmailed me, outed me to my father and sent photographs to other family members.
“He wanted £50,000 (€59,000) to keep quiet. The police were so supportive, so understanding and on this occasion the system worked.”
The MP said the offender was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison after admitting his guilt.
“For a while it seemed as though I would be able to get on with things and move on,” Mr Wallis wrote.
“Being an MP and hiding something like this was always going to be tough, but I arrogantly assumed I was up for it.
“Well, I’m not.”
I am so very proud of my friend @JamieWallisMP
You have changed this country today
Your bravery will give hope and courage to people across our country. From the trans community, to survivors
We all here for you, as you live your life as your true self, but ever as our friend https://t.co/i3HXyv2Hep— Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Melton (@aliciakearns) March 30, 2022
Giving details of the rape, the MP said: “I ‘hooked up’ with someone who I met online and when I chose to say ‘no’ on the basis that he wouldn’t wear a condom he chose to rape me.
“I have not been myself since this incident and I don’t think I will ever recover. It is not something you ever forget, and it is not something you ever move on from.
“Since then things have really taken a tumble. I am not ok.”
Proud of my colleague Jamie Wallis. As a Conservative family we stand together, and we will support you. I hope that your brave statement will help others. https://t.co/a0EZe9fvKo
— Oliver Dowden (@OliverDowden) March 30, 2022
The MP was arrested over a car crash in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, last year.
Mr Wallis said he fled the scene after the smash in November “because I was terrified”.
“I have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and I honestly have no idea what I was doing except I was overcome by an overwhelming sense of fear.”
South Wales Police said the matter is still under investigation.
Mr Wallis posted his statement following the party for Conservative MPs at the Park Plaza hotel in London, just across Westminster Bridge from the House of Commons.
The MP said he “was reminded of the incredible support those you work with can provide” while attending the event.
“I’ve had a lot of support from the Whips since I was elected,” he said.
“Not for the reasons you might think, but there’s a lot that goes on in MPs’ lives and the Whips play an important wellbeing role – as far as I’ve seen they try their best to support and help MPs who are having a tough time. Well they’ve certainly earned their keep with me.”
Tory party chairman Oliver Dowden said he was “proud of my colleague Jamie Wallis”, adding: “As a Conservative family we stand together, and we will support you.
“I hope that your brave statement will help others.”
Fellow Tory MPs also showed their support for Mr Wallis, with former whip Mike Fabricant saying it was “a very brave statement”.
Alicia Kearns said Mr Wallis had “changed” the nation and added: “Your bravery will give hope and courage to people across our country.”
Former MP and chancellor George Osborne said “we comment on the things that have got worse in politics, but many things have got better”, tweeting that “if a Tory MP had said this when I was first elected 20 years ago they would have been hounded not applauded and supported”.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800 77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/, or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.
