Queen signs marriage bill, equality throughout the Commonwealth

Queen Elizabeth the II gave royal assent to a bill that will give GLBT people the right to marry in England and Wales. In May, the Commonwealth adopted a new charter. The 54 member nations agreed, “We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, color, creed, political belief or other grounds.” Sexual orientation and gender identity were not explicitly mentioned in the new charter, but some have argued that ‘other grounds’ was a politically expedient way to include LGBT people in the new charter.

Andre Banks, Executive Director and Co-Founder of All Out said, “While this is an incredible moment for England, it is time for the government of England to be more outspoken about anti-gay violence happening in the Commonwealth, many of the laws that persecute gays and lesbians are a direct result of old colonial-era laws inherited from England. In places like Cameroon, Nigeria, Uganda, and 36 Commonwealth nations, gay, lesbian, bi, and trans people aren’t fighting for marriage, they are fighting for their lives.”

Article adapted by Proud Parenting from original press release via AllOut.org