LONDON — Actor Ian McKellen joined a march in central London protesting the criminalisation of LGBTQ+ people in Commonwealth countries. The demonstration, dubbed the 'Commonwealth Walk of Shame,' was organized by the Peter Tatchell Foundation and the Out and Proud African LGBTI Network.

Marchers gathered outside the high commissions of eight Commonwealth nations that criminalise same-sex relationships: Nigeria, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana, Jamaica, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Protesters held signs urging King Charles to "apologise for previous monarchs" and referencing "75 years" of homophobic persecution.

McKellen told the crowd that the demonstration was "not about hatred" but about "a love of justice, a love of equality." He said: "When Britain had an empire, it introduced into countries far away from here the laws that we had in this country, including the laws against gay people." He added: "Those laws have quite rightly been repealed in this country where gay people live freely and openly alongside the rest of the population, but those old laws, those British laws, those foreign laws remain stuck in the remnants of the British empire now known as the Commonwealth."

McKellen noted that same-sex relationships remain illegal in 29 Commonwealth countries. In six of those nations, LGBTQ+ people face life imprisonment, and Uganda and Nigeria retain the death penalty for same-sex conduct. "Unfortunately, half of the Commonwealth countries stick with those old laws, and our plea to them today is to live up to the standards and declaration of the Commonwealth and repeal them," he said. He also stated that much of the anti-LGBTQ+ hatred seen across Africa and Asia was 'exported there' by 'cruel' colonial laws.

McKellen expressed hope that the protest would draw attention to the issue within Commonwealth institutions. "One thing it doesn’t do is ever discuss this problem. It’s never on the agenda, and perhaps events like this will just nudge politicians into talking about something which is of such concern," he said. He added: "Perhaps they could show a little bit more interest in actually what the Commonwealth does and what it doesn’t do."

He concluded by saying: "This is a heartfelt demonstration and I hope word will get back to people who are some of them living in hiding because they’re frightened of the laws of the land and treatment by fellow citizens. It’s an appalling situation, and any little bit that we can do to show support I think will be appreciated."