While the anti-gay laws in Russia have garnered a lot of International attention in recent weeks, it is still legal to be gay in the country. However, in other parts of the world, where The Queen is Head of State, gay people can still be jailed for same-sex activity.
Queen Elizabeth II is Queen of three nation states where same-sex marriage is legal, England and Wales, Canada and New Zealand. However in the majority of the countries where The Queen is the constitutional Monarch, there are no legal protections in place to protect LGBT people at all.
The Queen is a constitutional monarch, so she is considered ‘above politics’ in all of her realms.
In 11 of her 16 realms, homosexuality is illegal:-
Antigua and Barbuda
In Antigua and Barbuda same sex activity is illegal for both gay men and lesbian women. Two consenting adults found guilty of the offence can face up to 15 years in prison and no legal protections exist to protect those who are LGBT.
Although the law is rarely enforced, people in Barbados found guilty of same-sex activity can face up to life imprisonment. Homophobia is rife in the country and in recent days a newspaper columnist from the country claimed that “AIDS a punishment” for those that are homosexual.
Same-sex activity has been illegal in Belize since 2003 and those found guilty can face up to 10 years in prison. Despite the fact Belize has faced pressure from the United States to change the law the Prime Minister has remained adamant that gay sex should remain a criminal offence. Earlier this year a case that was brought in 2010 made it to the Supreme Court with British former attorney general, Lord Goldsmith among a team who argued for an overturn of the law.
In Grenada male homosexuality is a crime and those found guilty can face up to 10 years in prison. While female homosexuality isn’t illegal in the country, no legal rights exist for lesbians.
This list continues on the next page.