Commonwealth leaders faced protest at Westminster Abbey over anti-LGBTQ+ laws

Leaders from 29 Commonwealth countries that criminalise LGBTQ+ people were met with boos and jeers as they arrived at the Commonwealth’s annual service at Westminster Abbey today, 10 March 2025.

The Commonwealth: still deeply anti-LGBTQ+ rights

Despite violating the human rights provisions of the Commonwealth Charter, they were welcomed by the Church of England, the UK government, and king Charles as head of the Commonwealth.

Among the 50 protesters were LGBTQ+ refugees who have fled persecution in Commonwealth nations. They included members of UK Black Pride, Let Voice Be Heard (Bangladesh), African Equality Foundation, and Out and Proud African LGBTI.

Abbey Kiwanuka, a Ugandan refugee with Out and Proud African LGBTI, recalled:

I came from hell, with cigarette burns in both my palms and on my legs, scars on my face from constant beatings. I went through every kind of human degradation.

Edwin Sesange, a Ugandan LGBTQ+ refugee and spokesperson for the African Equality Foundation, added:

Shame on the Commonwealth for failing to uphold its own Charter and for not defending the human rights of all Commonwealth citizens. The jailing and murder of LGBT+ people is a crime against humanity.

Protest and demands

Protesters carried placards with messages including “Commonwealth: 75 years of anti-LGBT+ persecution. Repeal anti-LGBT+ laws” and “Commonwealth fails to condemn persecution of LGBT+ people”. People were chanting:

Hey, hey. Ho, ho! Commonwealth homophobia has got to go

And:

2-4-6-8, Commonwealth is full of hate.

The protest was organised by the Peter Tatchell Foundation. Its director, Peter Tatchell, said:

As the Commonwealth celebrates, we mourn. We are calling out the 29 member states that violate their own equality principles and the Commonwealth Charter. They preside over state-sanctioned persecution of their LGBT+ citizens.

Twenty-nine out of 56 Commonwealth countries criminalise homosexuality, mostly under British colonial-era laws. Six impose life imprisonment, while Nigeria, Brunei and Uganda have the death penalty. Millions of LGBT+ Commonwealth citizens face arrest, imprisonment, mob violence, and discrimination in employment, housing, education and healthcare.

These anti-LGBT+ laws violate the Commonwealth Charter, which pledges equality and opposition to all forms of discrimination. For 75 years, Commonwealth leaders have refused to even discuss LGBT+ rights at their summits.

The Secretary-General, Baroness Scotland, has failed to speak out against these abuses or defend persecuted LGBT+ people. She has failed to uphold the Commonwealth Charter on multiple human rights issues.

Countries that criminalise LGBT+ people should be suspended from the Commonwealth.

https://twitter.com/PeterTatchell/status/1899146520827433138

The Commonwealth: sort it out

The protest calls on all Commonwealth governments to:

• Decriminalise same-sex relations.
• Prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Enforce laws against hate crimes to protect LGBTQ+ people.
• Engage in dialogue with LGBT+ organisations.

The six Commonwealth countries that impose life imprisonment for same-sex acts are Bangladesh, Guyana, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Featured image via the Peter Tatchell Foundation