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Commonwealth Day 2024 is scheduled for March 11 and will begin a week-long series of celebrations around the globe, including school assemblies,
flag-raising ceremonies and cultural events. The Commonwealth, which consists mostly of former British colonies, includes 31 nations that still have
anti-homosexuality laws — roughly three-fifths of the group’s total of 56 countries.
King Charles is Head of Commonwealth and will lead the celebrations. There is no record of the King speaking out on the subject of LGBTQ+ rights, but his close friend Sir Elton John has previously vouched for Charles, expressing confidence that he and Prince William would use their influence to try and decriminalise homosexuality and improve LGBTQ+ rights in Commonwealth states. Elton was quoted as saying "Things don't happen over night. You can't change a culture and people's way of thinking that fast. You can certainly step in the water and have a good go. If you don't take that step, nothing's going to get done. I think Charles, as Head of the Commonwealth, will do those kind of things." |
Human rights activists based in and outside Uganda have petitioned the government of the United Kingdom, urging it to cancel an invitation to Anita Among, Speaker of the Uganda Parliament, to participate in the Commonwealth’s 75th anniversary celebrations in London. Among was the chief architect of the draconian Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), one of the world’s harshest anti-LGBTQI+ laws. It calls for life imprisonment for consenting gay sex acts and the death penalty for people it describes as serial offenders. Speaker Among has publicly stated that she will use the opportunity to defend the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act. Studies by the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), a legal aid organization in Uganda, show that since the passage of the AHA, the nation has experienced an unprecedented upsurge in violent attacks against LGBTQI+ persons. HRAPF documented of cases of physical assault, illegal arrests, sexual violence, evictions, blackmail, loss of employment and denial of access to healthcare all over the country. | |
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The younger generation of royals have been much more vocal in their support of LGBTQ+ rights.
Prince William, who is now Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, said in 2019 he would be "absolutely fine" if any of his children were to come out as gay or lesbian. On a recent visit to the LGBTQ+ charity akt - The Albert Kennedy Trust, he was asked by one of the residents how he would react to his child coming out. "I think you don't really start thinking about that until you are a parent, and I think - obviously, absolutely fine by me," The Prince of Wales said. |
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William said he has spoken about the subject with his wife, Catherine, now Princess of Wales, and he raised concerns about the pressure people face
when coming out. William went on to say, "I fully support whatever decision they make, but it does worry me from a parent point of view how many barriers,
hateful words, persecution and discrimination that might come."
William has supported the community before as well. In 2016 he invited LGBTQ+ people to Kensington Palace to learn more about bullying of the community, and the year before he led a diversity anti-bullying workshop. That same year he made history by appearing on the front cover of Attitude magazine, becoming the first member of the royal family to pose for an LGBTQ+ publication. As President of the Football Association he also sent words of support to Blackpool footballer Jake Daniels after he came out as gay, saying that he hoped the sportsman's decision to "speak openly gives others the confidence to do the same". | |
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, have also showed support for the LGBTQ+ community by becoming the first members of
the royal family to publicly celebrate Pride month.
In memory of his mother, Princess Diana, Harry has also tackled the stigma of HIV/AIDS and help spread awareness of the issues that some people face. In 2016 Harry was tested for HIV live on television, and as a result the numbers of people getting tested skyrocketed. He described his mother's work as "unfinished business", saying "I feel obligated to try and continue that as much as possible." |
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Prince Harry went on to say "I can never fill her shoes, especially in this particular space, what she did,
what she stood for and how vocal she was on this issue."
During the height of AIDS crisis Princess Diana made many visits to a charitable HIV hospital in East London, called Mildmay, and she famously shook hands with a patient. It was a moving scene to watch and it certainly helped lessen stigma around the HIV/AIDS virus. You may have read in the past few days that London Mayor Sadiq Khan has had all the London Overground lines named after significant events in the history of the city. One of the lines from Stratford which goes to Clapham Junction and Richmond is named Mildmay to commemorate the fantastic work of the hospital and the famous visits from Princess Diana, which meant so much to all those involved. | |
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Those multiple acts of kindness were reported worldwide. Princess Diana said at the time, "HIV does not make people dangerous to know. So you can shake their hand and give them a hug, heaven knows they need it."
The generosity of the Princess of Wales all those years ago is still remembered today and just a few years ago Prince Harry donned a red AIDS ribbon while he visited Mildmay Hospital and met with many of the people there. "When my mother held the hand of a man dying of AIDS," the Prince said, "no one would have imagined that just over a quarter of a century later treatment would exist that could see HIV-positive people live full, healthy, loving lives." |
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As the 56 countries and territories of the Commonwealth now come together for Commonwealth Day and the commemorations that follow, perhaps it would be good for all
concerned if leaders from countries like Uganda remembered Princess Diana and her acts of kindness, and then abandoned their cruelty, discrimination and persecution of
LGBTQ+ people in their countries.
Flags in Parliament Square, London on Commonwealth Day
King Charles III
Map of the Commonwealth of Nations
HRH Prince William Duke of Cambridge at the 3rd Annual International Corruption Hunter Alliance
Prince Harry at the 2017 Invictus Games opening ceremony
Princess Diana at Accord Hospice |
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