five-piece group - made up of Lee Latchford-Evans, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer and Watkins - previously performed in the UAE in 2018, but Watkins said the country's laws have changed since then and are now a lot more "archaic".He explained: "We did a gig in Dubai years ago, but the laws have changed a lot since then."Actually, the whole world has progressed, but the laws in the Emirates and Dubai are even more archaic now. London Pride parade 2023: Time and date, exact route, and where to watch it Phillip Schofield affair reaction was 'totally homophobic', says Sir Elton John Pioneering actress Miriam Margolyes makes British Vogue cover debut aged 82 as she tells magazine 'I never had any shame about being gay' "I think, if we took a stand and did our show, as it was, I, specifically would be in danger."I would go to jail, we would absolutely be in contempt of the government."But we can do our bit and we will actually go up and say, 'no, we're not doing that', and that creates even more noise."He said he had told his fellow group members they could perform without him if they wanted, but they refused.Steps member Claire Richards, who was also at the event, called the decision to turn down the gig, a "no brainer".She said: "It's absolutely what we stand for as a band and all of us support H to the hill, it's not even a question."I mean, there's an argument to say we could have gone.
