Theresa May apologizes for UK’s colonial anti-gay laws
British Prime Minister Theresa May has said she deeply regrets the UK’s role in criminalizing same-sex relations in its former colonies.
The laws were passed under British rule and are still used in 37 of the Commonwealth’s 53 member nations.
There is a global trend towards decriminalizing homosexual acts, but some countries, like Nigeria and Uganda, have imposed stricter laws.
At a Commonwealth meeting, Mrs. May said laws were “wrong then and wrong now”.
Same-sex relations are explicitly banned in 72 countries, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA).
“Nobody should face discrimination and persecution because of who they are or who they love,” Mrs. May said in London as Commonwealth leaders gather for their summit, which is held every two years.
“The UK stands ready to support any Commonwealth nation wanting to reform outdated legislation that makes such discrimination possible. Across the world, discriminatory laws made many years ago continue to affect the lives of many people, criminalizing same-sex relations and failing to protect women and girls.”
The number of states that criminalise same-sex relations is decreasing annually, with Belize and the Seychelles repealing such laws in 2016.
But in many socially conservative and religious countries in Africa, where homosexuality is a taboo, there has been resistance to calls to decriminalize same-sex relationships.
South Africa, which rejoined the Commonwealth after the end of white-minority rule in 1994, is one of the exceptions. It has one of the most liberal constitutions in the world, which protects gay rights, and was the first African country to legalise same-sex marriage in 2006.
About author
You might also like
European LGBT rights activists fear setbacks without UK’s ‘voice for progress’
European LGBT rights network ILGA-Europe has expressed sadness that “the UK will no long be a voice for progress in the European Union”. The UK narrowly voted in a referendum
‘Bisexuality and Monogamy Aren’t “Mutually Exclusive”.’ – Anna Paquin
True Blood star, Anna Paquin came out as bisexual in 2010 and is crusading against the crude stereotypes about those who identify as bisexual – or gay, lesbian, transgender, or
What They Say VIII
In the wake of Femi Adesina’s tweet concerning Buhari’s supposed rejection of Obama’s LGBT concerns, a friend updated this on Facebook.
3 Comments
Emeli Sande urges Commonwealth leaders to see LGBT+ people ‘as human beings’ and overturn anti-gay laws – KitoDiaries
April 19, 05:39[…] Minister Theresa May, during the summit, said that she “deeply regrets” the legislation that was imposed on African countries like Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia during […]
UK pledges over £5m to help Commonwealth countries reverse antigay colonial laws – KitoDiaries
April 21, 05:12[…] Prime Minister Theresa May apologized for the laws, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle declared their commitment to LGBTI […]
Ghana pushes Antigay Bill after Theresa May urges for the Decriminalization of Homosexuality – KitoDiaries
May 30, 06:45[…] Prime Minister Theresa May’s plea for Commonwealth nations to decriminalize homosexuality was met with major backlash among the African commonwealth nations, especially […]