Steady on, writes CHRIS GEN. Queen Elizabeth hasn’t wrapped herself in a rainbow flag just yet.
My heart was aflame with delight as I browsed Twitter over my cornflakes. ‘A historic step for human rights has been taken’ I thought to myself. ”Good old Betty, supporting her fellow queens.” However, after traipsing through several articles and actually reading the Commonwealth charter, my spirit was abruptly dampened and my joy quickly extinguished.
From what I’ve read, we’ve yet to see a public declaration of support for the gay community from her highness – as in physically leave her own lips. I can’t help but feel that the praise publications and people have recently showered the Queen with was bestowed over alleged intention, rather than real support.
The Queen hasn’t so much raised her voice in favour of gay rights; rather she’s more muttered a barely audible whisper – a whisper said out of obligation and politeness, as opposed to actual belief.
Has the palace finally caught up in the race towards social profession? I’d wager not. The charter reads as follows:” We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds.”
I presume we are to take ‘other grounds’ as ‘we’re all for Team Gay.’ If the Bible has taught me anything, it’s that leaving things open to interpretation hasn’t really benefited the gay community. People are inclined to twist things to suit their own opinions and the lack of specification in the charter is just as bad as keeping gay men and woman silenced. I’m not being pedantic; I don’t expect Buckingham palace to proudly fly our rainbow flag, or the Queen to do karaoke to an Elton John classic. But her apparent support, and this charter, doesn’t quite have me convinced.
Instead I’d ask her to address the horrific fact that out of the 54 Commonwealth nations, homosexuality is still illegal in 41 one of them. I’d highlight the fact that’s it’s punishable by death in two of the countries; and in some places homosexual members of the community are subjected to torture – as well as social ridicule – on a daily basis purely for being who they are. The majority of these nations are infused with homophobia. The charter may indeed be perceived as historic by some, but we, the gay community, deserve more than a mere inference as do the Commonwealth countries in which this homophobia still takes place.
If it were perhaps real support, would we need it? More importantly, would it have any actual impact? The Queen herself remains seemingly impartial and somewhat apolitical. Her position is more symbolic than one that could influence the beliefs and options held by members of our society. Is her royal support truly monumental? Is signing a piece of paper she’s somewhat obligated to sign really as gigantic a stride forward for gay rights as its being made out to be? I don’t think so. Why should praise be given for ‘showing’ behavior that any decent, compassionate human being should show? I don’t think our majesty harbours homophobic tendencies; but she hasn’t exactly stood up for us either. As for the charter; leaving things open for interpretation doesn’t solve anything; it’s a cowardly way to tip-toe around a subject that people blatantly perceive as taboo.
