Jamie Wallis. (UK Parliament)
Welsh MP Jamie Wallis has come out as trans in a statement shared on social media.
In their statement, the Conservative MP for Bridgend and Porthcawl said there’s “a lot that goes on in MPs’ lives” behind the scenes that the public never knows about.
“I’m trans. Or to be more accurate, I want to be,” Wallis wrote.
“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.”
Wallis went on to say they had a “close call” in April 2020 when somebody blackmailed them, outed them to their father, and sent photographs to family members.
That person demanded £50,000 to keep quiet about Wallis’ gender identity.
In the end, Wallis filed a complaint with police over the blackmail and the man in question pled guilty and was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.
Trans MP Jamie Wallis thought they would be able to hide their gender identity
“For a while it seemed as though I would be able to get on with things and move on,” Wallis said.
“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.”
It’s time. https://t.co/cbt0tKQZuN pic.twitter.com/IUaCjm9PtE
— Jamie Wallis MP (@JamieWallisMP) March 30, 2022
Wallis, who has not specified what their pronouns are, went on to recount how they were sexually assaulted in September 2021 after they arranged to meet somebody online for a hook-up.
“A few months back, in September, 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,” Wallis wrote.
“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.”
Wallis said they were in a car crash on 28 November and that they “fled the scene” because they were “terrified”.
“I have PTSD an I honestly have no idea what I was doing except I was overcome by an overwhelming sense of fear. I am sorry that it appears I ‘ran away’ but this isn’t how it happened in the moment.”
In their statement, Wallis thanked the party whips for their support, adding that his ordeal has served as a reminder of how important it is to be yourself.
“I have never lived my truth and I’m not sure how. Perhaps it starts with telling everyone,” they wrote.