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Tom Daley to host documentary on LGBT+ rights across Commonwealth

Tom Daley to host documentary on LGBT+ rights across Commonwealth
© BBC
Tom Daley films a new one-off documentary for the BBC exploring the varying rights of LGBT+ people across the Commonwealth.

Tom Daley has filmed a new documentary that sees him investigate the varying degrees of LGBT+ rights across the Commonwealth.

The programme, Tom Daley: Illegal To Be Me, has been announced on the eve of this year's Commonwealth Games, which are taking place in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands area.

In more than half of the 56 countries of the Commonwealth it is still illegal to be gay and as part of the show Daley, 28, will visit Pakistan, where homosexuality can be punished with death by stoning, as well as Jamaica, where the maximum sentence is 10 years in jail with hard labour.

The Olympic gold-winning diver will speak to top gay sports stars - some of them anonymously - around the world before returning to the UK armed with a series of recommendations for the Commonwealth Games Federation.

"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," Daley said.

"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.

"So along with some of these inspirational people, we're working on a campaign that we wanted to be more than just something you see in a documentary that you watch for an hour and then move on. We wanted it to be something that actually makes a difference.

Tom Daley for Tom Daley: Illegal To Be Me© BBC

"LGBT+ athletes must be safe and feel comfortable being their authentic selves without fear of persecution or death.

"The CGF has been willing to talk and willing to hear what we have to say, and it's good to see they've started taking a stance towards more inclusion.

"Along with incredible LGBT+ people around the Commonwealth, we will make a difference.

"The Commonwealth Games Federation can be a shining example to other sporting organisations that sports really can be for everyone and with the pull power sports has, we can hopefully influence change to horrendous human rights laws that exist in so many countries around the world."

Tom Daley: Illegal To Be Me will air on BBC One on Tuesday, August 9 at 9pm.

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