Queen set to sign new charter backing equal rights for women and gay people

[Berlin Expat]

Source: The Independent (U.K.)


The Queen is set to sign a new charter backing equal rights for women and gay people after it received the support of every Commonwealth nation, it was reported last night.

The monarch will sign the new Commonwealth Charter in an event tomorrow which includes the core values - from human rights to the rule of law - that leaders have committed to upholding.

According to the Mail on Sunday, the document declares: "We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds.

Insiders said the decision to highlight the event is a "watershed" moment because it is the first time she has signalled her support for gay rights in her 61-year reign, the paper claimed.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/queen-set-to-sign-new-charter-backing-equal-rights-for-women-and-gay-people-8528058.html

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A bit late for Oscar Wilde perhaps, but as the old saying goes - better late than never. Glad to see Her Majesty doing this. Of course, the wingnuts in the UK will go crazy (and there are wingnuts in the UK, as there are wingnuts everywhere) but the times, they are a'changing.

[Glorfindel]

1. Hooray! This is a big f***ing deal...

thanks for sharing. May Her Majesty live long and prosper!

[Nye Bevan]

2. A little ironic, given that in the UK it is illegal for the monarch to be a Catholic (nt)

[ButterflyBlood]

5. Being a Catholic is a voluntary association

One chooses to be a Catholic. Not true for being a gay or female.

Also the monarch serves as head of the Church of England. This is purely symbolic (just like the monarchy's status of Head of State) but having the CoE headed by a Catholic would obviously be pretty awkward.

[Nye Bevan]

7. I see your point, that discrimination based upon religion is not as bad as other forms

of discrimination, because people always have the option to change their religion, unlike their race or sex.

[Posteritatis]

3. Unanimous support from the Commonwealth states is shocking

Not necessarily in a bad way, mind, but there's quite a few countries on that list who do not have the most glowing record on the subject.

Still good to see even the attempt at agreement on something like that, though.

[smirkymonkey]

4. +1000

[littlemissmartypants]

6. LMSP kicking...

[dbackjon]

8. Interesting since some of the members

are extremely homophobic

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Hence the use of "other grounds", rather than explicitly saying "sexuality"

or anything else that makes it clear.

The full document: http://www.thecommonwealth.org/files/252053/FileName/CharteroftheCommonwealth.pdf

I suspect that 'other grounds' was agreed on so that progressive countries can say it means sexuality, while the homophobic ones will ignore it.

[Auntie Bush]

9. Is that the law that will make Kate's baby, boy or girl, the next monarch after William?

The crown will go to the oldest child...no matter whether it's a boy or girl.

[Posteritatis]

10. This isn't British legislation. (nt)

[idwiyo]

11. K&R Great news! Can't wait to see all tha pissing and moaning from our own RW. :)