Tom Daley and protesters criticise anti-gay laws in 35 Commonwealth countries – iNews
LGBT rights activist and champion diver Tom Daley waved the pride flag at the opening ceremony of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in protest at anti-gay laws in participating nations.
In 35 out of the 56 Commonwealth nations homosexuality is considered a crime, with some countries still punishing it with the death penalty.
Daley, who came out as gay in 2013 and is married to Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black, said he “couldn’t imagine” what life is like for LGBT athletes attending from such countries.
Tom Daley said: “Seven Commonwealth nations have a maximum penalty of life imprisonment under laws imposed by Britain in the 19th century when it was the colonial power.
“Every single person should be free to live their true authentic self, no matter where they are born or who they are. We must all keep working until everyone is free and equal.”
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The move came after demonstrators, led by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, disrupted the final leg of the Queen’s baton relay.
Tatchell was joined by members of the Out and Proud African LGBTI group, who he said had fled persecution in their home countries.
He said: “Despite the Commonwealth Games Federation claiming that the games are open to everyone, it would be impossible for a known LGBT+ athlete to be selected for the national team of two-thirds of the competing Commonwealth nations. They would be jailed, not selected – no matter how good they were.”
He added: “The Commonwealth is a homophobic institution. It is a bastion of anti-LGBT+ laws, discrimination and hate crime. LGBT+ issues have never been discussed, not even once, by Commonwealth leaders at any of their summits over the last three decades.
The BBC is to air a documentary called Tom Daley: Illegal To Be Me, in which sees the diver travel to a number of Commonwealth countries where discrimination against LGBTQ+ people was rife.