“I am trans, or to be more accurate, I want to be,” Wallis said, revealing he had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and having felt “this way” since being “a very young child.”

“I had no intention of ever sharing this with you,” the Conservative member of parliament (MP) said, in a tweet prefaced by the words “It’s time”.

“I always imagined I would leave politics well before I ever said this out loud.”

But Wallis revealed he had been blackmailed in April 2020, when someone “outed” him to his father and sent photographs to other family members.

“He wanted £50,000 [$66,000] to keep quiet,” Wallis said. The politician involved the police, who he said “were so supportive, so understanding,” and the blackmailer pled guilty and was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.

“For a while it seemed as though I would be able to get on with things and move on. Being an MP and hiding something like this was always going to be tough, but I arrogantly assumed I was up for it,” Wallis said in the statement.

“Well, I’m not,” said Wallis, who has represented the Welsh constituency of Bridgend since 2019.

Wallis then revealed that he had been the victim of a rape in September last year. A man he met online raped him after Wallis refused to have sex without the man wearing a condom.

“I have not been myself since this incident and I don’t think I will ever recover,” said Wallis, 37.

“It is not something you ever forget, and it is not something you ever move on from,” said Wallis, who specified in a follow-up statement that he’s still using “he/him” pronouns.

Wallis then shared that he’s not OK and “things have really taken a tumble” after the assault, saying he crashed his car on November 28, 2021 and fled the scene overwhelmed by PTSD.

Wallis was arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit following the incident.

Wallis’ statement came after a team-bonding dinner for Conservative MPs organized by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday evening at a hotel in central London.

At the dinner, Johnson made a joke about opposition leader Keir Starmer saying trans women could still have male genitals, the Guardian reports.

“Good evening ladies and gentleman, or as Keir Starmer would put it, people who are assigned female or male at birth,” the prime minister reportedly said.

In response to Wallis’ statement on Wednesday, Johnson tweeted: “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.”

Wallis said of the dinner that he was “reminded of the incredible support those you work with can provide.”

“Also, I was reminded how important it is to be yourself,” he added.

“I have never lived my truth and I’m not sure how. Perhaps it starts with telling everyone.”

Widespread Support

Wallis’ heartfelt statement drew widespread support from across the British parliament.

Conservative Party Chairman Oliver Dowden said: “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.”

Opposition Labour MP Beth Winter responded to Wallis’ tweet by saying: “A very brave statement and one I hope gives others courage too. So positive that you feel supported.” Conservative MP Andrew Bowie wrote: “Incredibly brave of you to post this mate. Proud of you. All power to you.”

Other Labour MPs Ruth Cadbury, Wes Streeting, Yasmin Qureshi, Sarah Owen and Angela Eagle echoed their words, praising Wallis’ “courage” and honesty and saying his decision will help many. Similar praises came from Liberal Democrat MPs such as Jamie Stone and Helen Morgan.