The 2022 Commonwealth Games kick off today (July 28).
The annual sporting event sees over 6,500 athletes from the Commonwealth nations come together to compete in an array of sporting events.
This year is a huge year for the UK as the competition is returning to British soil for the first time since 2014.
The Birmingham games promise to be the "Games for everyone" and claim that it is the "world's most inclusive" multi-sport event, but not everyone agrees that this is true.
Members of the LGBT+ community are expected to stage protests ahead of the opening ceremony today.
Protests have been organised for 1pm as the Queen's baton arrives for the start of the Games at Aston Hall, and then again at 5pm at the Alexander Stadium, where the opening ceremony is due to take place a few hours later.
Here's why the protests are happening and what Commonwealth athletes have said about LGBT+ rights at the games.
Why are there LGBT+ protests at the Commonwealth Games?
Thirty-five out of the 56 Commonwealth member states currently criminalise same-sex relations, which makes up over half of the countries globally to outlaw homosexuality.
Out of those countries, seven of them have a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for breaking the law, which were imposed by Britain during the 19th century.
Now the LGBT community, including athletes who've competed at the games themselves, are condemning the homophobia of Commonwealth nations and calling for the legalisation of same-sex relations.
Peter Tatchell, director of human rights organisation The Peter Tatchell Foundation, has spoken out about how the draconian laws impact athletes.
He said: “Despite the Commonwealth Games Federation claiming that the games are open to everyone, it would be impossible for a known LGBT+ athlete to be selected for the national team of two-thirds of the competing Commonwealth nations. They would be jailed, not selected – no matter how good they were.
“In parts of one Commonwealth country, northern Nigeria, there is the death penalty for homosexuality and three alleged gay men have been recently sentenced to death by stoning after an unfair trial."
During today's protest, LGBT+ campaigners will be calling for Commonwealth nations to:
- Decriminalise same-sex relations
- Prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Enforce laws against threats and violence, to protect LGBT+ people from hate crime
- Consult and dialogue with LGBT+ organisations.
Tatchell added: “Millions of LGBT+ people living in Commonwealth nations have no legal protection against discrimination in employment, housing, education, health care and the provision of good and services.
"This makes a mockery of Commonwealth values and the human rights principles of the Commonwealth Charter."
He added: "The Commonwealth is a homophobic institution."
Tom Daley condemns homophobia in the Commonwealth
As the LGBT+ community prepares to protest for their rights ahead of the games, British Olympic medallist Tom Daley has also condemned the homophobia of Commonwealth countries.
In a new BBC documentary to be aired next month, Daley visited some of the Commonwealth's most homophobic nations to expose the extreme discrimination faced by the LGBT+ community.
In it, he says: “I’ve experienced homophobia all my life, competing in countries where it’s illegal to be me and where I don’t feel safe to leave the venue I’m competing in.
“If I feel like that as a privileged man, I can’t imagine what day-to-day life is like for LGBT+ people around the Commonwealth.”
During the documentary, Daley also speaks with fellow athlete Michael Gunning.
The 200m swimmer is the only openly gay athlete on Jamaica's national team; the country still has prohibitive laws.
He told the BBC: "It's a human right, being gay. You shouldn't be segregated. We shouldn't feel so isolated,
"I was ashamed of my sexuality.
"The representation of our LGBTIQ+ athletes at Birmingham 2022 will be at least three times greater than at the previous Commonwealth Games, but progress is far from universal for our LGBTIQ+ athletes in sport."
Daley, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2018, will carry the Queen's baton into the Alexander Stadium today alongside some of the athletes and advocates he has met on his journey.
