Ian McKellen joins Commonwealth Walk of Shame protest
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- Ian McKellen joined a march in central London on Saturday, calling the criminalisation of LGBTQ+ people in 29 Commonwealth countries an “appalling situation”.
- Peter Tatchell Foundation and the Out and Proud African LGBTI Network organised the demonstration, billed as the “Commonwealth Walk of Shame”.
- Nigeria high commission was the first stop, and marchers then protested outside the high commissions of Uganda, Papua New Guinea, Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana, Jamaica, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
- Six of the 29 Commonwealth countries impose life imprisonment for LGBTQ+ people, while Uganda and Nigeria retain the death penalty for same‑sex relations.
- McKellen said the anti‑LGBTQ+ statutes are colonial legacies from Britain and urged Commonwealth members to repeal them in line with the bloc’s own declaration.
- Crowd members displayed signs demanding King Charles apologise for past monarchs and highlighting “75 years” of homophobic persecution.
- Commonwealth has never placed LGBTQ+ criminalisation on its agenda, and McKellen hoped the march will nudge politicians to discuss the issue.
Why it matters: LGBTQ+ activists gain heightened visibility and moral support from a high‑profile celebrity, while governments that maintain colonial anti‑LGBTQ+ laws face increased international pressure; the march’s call for Commonwealth discussion could force policy reconsideration in the 29 nations where such statutes remain.
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