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# Downing Street stands by Johnson’s visit to anti-LGBTQ+ church
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/downing-street-stands-by-johnsons-visit-to-anti-lgbtq-church/
- Published: 2021-04-08T12:00:06.000Z
- Updated: 2021-04-08T10:27:55.000Z
- Description: Press secretary Allegra Stratton said Downing Street stands by the prime minister’s decision to visit Jesus House.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, ban conversion therapy, Boris Johnson, Covid-19 vaccinations, Keir Starmer, LGBT Labour, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ rights, UK

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/boris-johnson-600-400.jpg)

**Boris Johnson’s** press secretary, **Allegra Stratton**, said Downing Street stands by the prime minister’s decision to visit **Jesus House**, despite **Labour** leader **Keir Starmer** [recently apologising](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/keir-starmer-criticised-for-visiting-anti-lgbtq-church/) for visiting due to the church’s anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes. Johnson visited the controversial church a month before Starmer, who has since said: *“I completely disagree with Jesus House’s beliefs on LGBTQ+ rights, which I was not aware of before my visit.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/keir-starmer-600-400.jpg)

Keir Starmer recently apologised for visiting Jesus House

Despite Starmer’s retraction of support for Jesus House, Stratton said Johnson’s visit was *“incredibly important”*, as cited by the *[Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-jesus-house-lgbt-keir-starmer-b928085.html?ref=scenemag.co.uk).* When asked by the press if Johnson regretted his visit, she responded: *“We remember the visit to Jesus House well because that day it was the site of a pop-up centre for vaccines. One of the main jobs inside government over the last few weeks and months has been driving up vaccine take-up in communities that are hesitant about taking it – most noticeably the black community.”*

She affirmed that the visit was *“profitable”* as Johnson hopes to *“increase vaccine take-up”*, but also said the government is *“fully committed”* to advancing LGBTQ+ rights in the UK. **LGBT+ Labour** also said that Starmer is *“determined to ban conversion therapy and achieve equality for LGBTQ+ people.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/lgbt-pride-flag-600-400.jpg)