Following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that he will step down as Leader of the Labour Party while remaining Prime Minister until a successor is chosen, attention has quickly turned to who could become the party’s next leader.

One of the names expected to enter the contest is Andy Burnham, who recently returned to Westminster after winning the Makerfield by-election. Having served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017 before returning to Parliament, Burnham brings with him decades of political experience—and a long history of supporting LGBTQ+ equality.

A Long History of LGBTQ+ Support

Burnham’s support for LGBTQ+ rights stretches back well before he entered Parliament. As a university student in 1988, he joined protests against Section 28, the controversial legislation introduced by Margaret Thatcher’s government that prohibited local authorities from “promoting homosexuality”.

After becoming an MP, Burnham consistently voted in favour of major LGBTQ+ equality legislation, including:

Repealing Section 28.
The Civil Partnership Act 2004.
Laws banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in the provision of goods and services.
Equal access to IVF treatment for lesbian couples.
The legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2013.

In 2015, during Labour’s previous leadership contest, Burnham also publicly urged Pope Francis to support same-sex marriage, saying the Catholic Church should move “into the 21st century” on LGBTQ+ equality.

Championing LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Greater Manchester

As Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham continued to place LGBTQ+ inclusion high on his agenda.

In 2018, he appointed Carl Austin-Behan, the former Lord Mayor of Manchester and ex-RAF serviceman who had previously been dismissed because he was gay, as Greater Manchester’s first LGBTQ+ Adviser.

He also established the Greater Manchester LGBTQ+ Equality Panel, bringing together community voices to help shape policy and improve the lives of LGBTQ+ residents across the region.

In 2024, Burnham formally apologised for Greater Manchester Police’s historic treatment of LGBTQ+ people, describing past discrimination as “shameful”.

His Record on Trans Rights

Burnham has generally been regarded as an ally of the trans community.

He supported reform of the Gender Recognition Act in 2019, backing proposals to simplify the process for trans people seeking legal recognition.

In 2022, he defended the right of trans women to use women’s toilets despite criticism from gender-critical campaigners.

He has also supported a comprehensive ban on conversion therapy covering all LGBTQ+ people.

However, his position has not been without criticism.

In 2020, Burnham met representatives from the LGB Alliance during discussions around Gender Recognition Act reform. While the meeting prompted concern from some LGBTQ+ campaigners, Burnham’s office reiterated his long-standing support for transgender people.

Following the UK Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of sex in 2025, Burnham said the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s guidance should be implemented “in the fairest and most compassionate way possible”. He argued that single-sex spaces should be protected while ensuring trans people are not unnecessarily marginalised.

Looking Ahead

As Labour prepares to elect a new leader, Burnham’s record on LGBTQ+ issues is likely to receive close scrutiny.

Supporters point to more than three decades of public support for LGBTQ+ equality, from campaigning against Section 28 as a student to supporting same-sex marriage, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and reforms aimed at improving the lives of trans people.

At the same time, some campaigners will continue to examine his more recent positions on balancing trans rights with single-sex spaces following changes to UK law.

If Andy Burnham formally enters the leadership contest, his long-standing relationship with the LGBTQ+ community is expected to remain an important part of the conversation.