Daniel Gregg, a Liberal Democrat councillor in Greyfriars, Preston, has come out as non-binary and is calling for the city to embrace its trans and ethnic minority communities.

They came out last week, saying: “I am Daniel, I am a councillor who happens to be androsexual and non-binary and uses the pronouns: They/Them.”

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Councillor Gregg explained their gender is best described as an Androsexual Demiguy which means they partially, but not wholly, identify as a man, boy or otherwise masculine individual, regardless of their assigned gender at birth.

Councillor Gregg said: “The other part of identity is feminine and/or genderless.”

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The word androsexual refers to an individual’s sexual preferences towards men, males, or the masculine.

Councillors from both Liberal Democrats and the Labour party, led by Councillor Gregg, are calling for Preston City Council to fully embrace its trans and ethnic minority communities.

They want to see the council adopt the Progressive Pride Flag for every future pride month.

This flag features the widely recognised rainbow with the addition of colours for the trans, black and ethnic minority individuals.

Explaining the calls, Councillor Gregg said: “Every year for pride month, the city council fly the pride flag, which I have to say is fantastically welcoming, friendly, and lets people know they are safe here.

“I have reached out to the cabinet member for communities, inclusion and social justice, the cabinet member for the environment and the mayor so that we can send an even broader message, one which better represents Preston and the UK as a whole.

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“I understand that we will need to consult the local LGBTQ+ community and I welcome that 100%”

Their journey to coming out has been long and complex, but councillor Gregg was keen to share it, in the hopes that it may help others, no matter what they are experiencing.

Daniel Gregg was born and raised in Fishwick, Preston. Their journey to today began as a teenager who at 13, whilst trying to come to terms with their identity, survived sexual abuse by an adult they trusted and shortly after witnessed their mother’s passing when she was only 37 years old.

This caused them to withdraw and to become “different and shy”, resulting in them being bullied, and after coming out as gay at college, to be the victim of homophobic abuse.

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Councillor Gregg said: “I have never felt masculine or manly, I tended to befriend women more than men, as they were easier to get along with and more welcoming.

“I tried to hide who I was and even got engaged to a woman and moved down south to Hampshire. The relationship soon turned into domestic violence. So, a year later, I returned to Preston and was homeless for about six months before I could turn my life around.”

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Councillor Gregg joined the Liberal Democrats in 2018 and, through their continued support, has grown in confidence. They won their first council seat in 2019 and now they hope to lead Preston towards a new inclusive future.

Councillor Gregg said: “We have judged people for the way they look for too long, we all need to change the way we see gender and become open to evolving and change.”

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