Queen pledges fight for gay rights

Queen Elizabeth II made history on Sunday.

According to the Daily Mail, the Queen backed a pledge to promote gay rights and gender equality on Sunday.

Her highness signed a new charter in the Commonwealth’s constitution. This charter is meant to stamp out discrimination against homosexuals, promote the empowerment of women and to boost living standards and human rights records in the Commonwealth.

This historical moment, the first public appearance for the Queen since contracting a stomach bug, marked the first time that she has signaled her support for gay rights during her 61 year reign.

Same-sex relationships are supported in five Commonwealth countries, those being; the U.K., Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.

It is still illegal, though in 41 of the Commonwealth’s 54 countries with the death penalty still being used in Nigeria and Pakistan.

Flickr Photo by: mwhdc