Leaders of 30 Commonwealth countries that criminalise LGBTs faced a barrage of boos and jeers as they arrived at today’s Commonwealth’s 75th anniversary service at Westminster Abbey. Shamefully, were welcomed by the Church of England and the UK Government, despite violating the human rights provisions of the Commonwealth Charter.
The Speaker of the Uganda Parliament, Anita Among, did not attend the service. This followed representations made by the Peter Tatchell Foundation. We urged her exclusion because she advocated the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, which includes the death penalty for some forms of consenting same-sex relations.
Among the 100 protesters were LGBT+ people who have fled discrimination and violence in Commonwealth nations. They included members of UK Black Pride, Gay Indian Network, Let Voice Be Heard (Bangladesh), African Equality Foundation and Out and Proud African LGBTI.
One LGBT+ refugee, Abbey Kiwanuka, who escaped Uganda, recalls that he “came from hell, with cigarette burns in both my palms and on my legs, scars on my face which resulted from the constant beating. I went through every kind of human degradation.”
Edwin Sesange, another LGBT+ refugee, added: “Shame on the Commonwealth for failing to uphold the Commonwealth Charter and not defending the human rights of Commonwealth citizens. The jailing and murder of LGBTs is a crime against humanity.”
