UK’s leading LGBTI charity Stonewall, condemned the coalition between the Conservatives and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) yesterday (9 June).

The DUP is a far-right and homophobic party in Northern Ireland, who vetoed several votes for same-sex marriage. They also actively campaign against abortion and want to bring back the death penalty.

But, in order to gain a majority of seats in Government after a hung parliament, Prime Minister Theresa May has to make a deal with the anti-gay party.

Chief executive, Ruth Hunt, wrote on the new partnership: ‘LGBT rights need to be protected and extended under this government, not threatened.

We can’t hold the new govt to account without your support. Please act now to secure LGBT equality. Text STONEWALL to 70500 to donate £5. pic.twitter.com/XkiP1FwgyN — Stonewall (@stonewalluk) 9 June 2017

‘If such a partnership is pursued, the Conservatives – at the very least – have an opportunity and an obligation to demonstrate to their partners in the DUP why they too need to think again about LGBT people, our rights and our needs, and start actively working to achieve equality for LGBT people in Northern Ireland.

‘It’s vital that the Conservative Party stand firm on LGBT equality, and the Prime Minister makes that clear from the outset,’ she wrote.

Over 550,000 people sign petition to stop the coalition

LGBTI people within the Conservative Government also shared concerns about the new coalition.

Ruth Davidson, out-lesbian leader of the Scottish Conservative Party warned May to keep the DUP in line.

She said: ‘I told her (May) there there was a number of things that count to me more than party.

‘One of them is country, one of the others is LGBTI rights and I asked for a categoric assurance that if any deal was done with the DUP there would be absolutely no rescinding of LGBTI rights in the rest of the UK and that we would try to use any influence that we had to advance LGBTI rights in Northern Ireland,’ she said.

Over 550,000 (at the time of writing) people signed a petition urging the Tory Government not to do a deal with the DUP.

The petition, also calls on Prime Minister May to resign after her shocking result at the election.

It reads: ‘Theresa May said there will not be a coalition of chaos and she is now forming a minority government with the DUP.

‘Theresa May should resign. This is a disgusting, desperate attempt to stay in power,’ it read.