Daily Headline – 10/03/13

Queen to sign in anti-discrimination charter

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Head of State for 16 countries (Commonwealth Realm) and head of the 54 member strong Commonwealth of Nations will swear in a new commonwealth charter today.

The anti-discrimination charter will mean its members oppose “all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds”

The disappointing part is the “other grounds” which should say ‘sexuality’. It has been suggested that adding anything more specific towards homosexuality could antagonise the numerous homophobic nations within the Commonwealth.

In 5 of the Commonwealth nations (Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Bangladesh and Guyana) homosexual behavior can get life in prison and in parts of 2 countries (Nigeria and Pakistan) the death penalty is possible.

So while this is a good move it does fall short of being fully progressive.