The Queen is to signal her support for gay rights in a statement and charter being described as a “watershed” moment. She will sign a new Commonwealth Charter, and will make an address explaining her commitment to it. The charter reads: “We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds.” The “other grounds” clause in the charter is intended to refer to sexuality, however specific references to gay and lesbian people were omitted due to Commonwealth countries with anti-gay laws, the Daily Mail reports. Ben Summerskill of Stonewall has told Pink News the Queen had taken “an historic step forward” on gay rights, and said “The Palace has finally caught up with public opinion.” He also said it was significant that the Queen was publicly acknowledging “the importance of the six per cent of her subjects who are gay. Some of the worst persecution of gay people in the world takes place in Commonwealth countries as a result of the British Empire.” Homosexual acts are illegal in 41 of the 54 Commonwealth nations.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 11th March 2013 - 9:54am