Diver Tom Daley Wins Commonwealth Gold, Calls On Member Nations To Decriminalize Homosexuality

BBC Sports reports:

Diver Tom Daley has called for more Commonwealth countries to decriminalise homosexuality. Daley won his fourth Commonwealth Games gold medal as he and Dan Goodfellow won the synchronised 10m platform on the Gold Coast in Australia, where same-sex marriage was made legal in December.

Homosexuality remains illegal in 70% of the 53 Commonwealth countries. “Coming to the Gold Coast and being able to live as an openly gay man is really important,” said Daley, 23. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Daley added: “I feel extremely lucky to compete openly as who I am, not worry about ramifications. But for lots of people living in those countries it is not the case.

“We have to talk about these things and shine a light on them in order to get change. By Birmingham and the next Commonwealth Games [in 2022], I really hope we see a decrease in that number of countries that criminalise LGBT issues.”

The number of Commonwealth nations that criminalize homosexuality actually decreased to 36 yesterday when the High Court in Trinidad and Tobago struck down a colonial-era buggery law. The government plans to appeal.