Tom Daley will front a new BBC documentary next month shining a spotlight on the widespread homophobia still present across Commonwealth countries.
It is still illegal to be gay in over half of the 56 member states that makes up the Commonwealth, with many still enforcing colonial era laws introduced by the British Empire. Punishments include whipping, life imprisonment and even the death sentence.
As athletes prepare to compete in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the Olympic gold medallist has travelled to some of the Commonwealth’s most homophobic countries to speak with sportspeople and activists about how sport could use its influence to help protect LGBTQ+ citizens.
Tom Daley: Illegal to Be Me sees the athlete take a very public stance against homophobia across the Commonwealth, as well as advocating for real change to better the life of LGBTQ+ people. It results in Tom submitting a manifesto of action points to the Commonwealth Games Federation – which includes contributions from LGBTQ+ people across the Commonwealth – in an effort to instigate long-lasting positive change.
For the documentary, Tom visits Pakistan, where homosexuality carries the maximum penalty of death by stoning, as well as Jamaica where the punishment is 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Athletes to feature in the film include Michael Gunning, the only openly gay athlete on Jamaica’s national team; India’s first openly gay athlete, Dutee Chand; and swimmers Theresa Goh and Amini Fonua who are both vocal supporters of LGBTQ+ rights in Singapore and Tonga.
Tom will also speak with prominent activists including Bisi Alimi from Nigeria and Carla Moore from Jamaica. They both speak more on the colonial legacy that introduced
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Michael Gunning
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