May calls for end to ‘colonial’ gay bans

THERESA May yesterday said she regrets Britain’s role in creating laws criminalising same-sex relationships in its former colonies, saying “they were wrong then and they are wrong now”.

The Prime Minister told the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London the UK would support member states which sought to reform “outdated” legislation affecting the relationships.

Her words were welcomed by LGBT activists, but came hours after a Trinidadian bishop had accused Britain of “a sort of neo-colonialism” by urging states to legalise homosexuality.

Mrs May told the gathering at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster: “I am all too aware that these laws were often put in place by my own country. They were wrong then and they are wrong now.

“As the UK’s prime minister, I deeply regret both the fact that such laws were introduced and the legacy of discrimination, violence and death that persists today.

Family

“As a family of nations we must respect one another’s cultures and traditions but we must do so in a manner consistent with our common value of equality – a value clearly stated in the Commonwealth Charter.

“Nobody should face discrimination because of who they are or who they love and the UK stands ready to help any Commonwealth member wanting to reform outdated legislation that makes such discrimination possible.”

Earlier, Bishop Victor Gill, from Trinidad and Tobago, had accused Britain of “bullying” smaller countries into liberalising sexuality laws.

He said: “Homosexuality is something the Bible condemns and we feel, from the perspective of the Christian community, as if this is being forced upon us by power brokers that are influencing our Government to take us into this direction.

“A sort of neo-colonialism. We give you this and you have to take it otherwise you won’t get any favours and benefits from the Commonwealth.”