To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken to support equality for LGBT people in the Commonwealth.
Answered on
2 November 2018
As host of the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April, we ensured that equality issues were raised throughout the week, including at Head of Government and Foreign Minister Level. In her speech to Commonwealth Forums, the Prime Minister expressed regret that discriminatory legislation continues to affect the lives of people across the Commonwealth, criminalising same-sex relations and failing to protect women and girls. The Prime Minister was clear that the UK stands ready to support any Commonwealth member wanting to reform outdated legislation that makes such discrimination possible. We have since announced a £5.6m programme working with civil society organisations to support those countries who might wish to reform discriminatory legislation. As Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth, the UK will continue to raise the importance of countering all forms of discrimination, including on the basis of gender and sexual orientation.