Tom Daley’s upcoming documentary: Illegal To Be Me
Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley is an out and proud member of the LGBTQ community, and staunch advocate for LGBTQ rights. On Tuesday, August 9, 2022, a 60 minute documentary, Illegal to be Me, will air on BBC One and iPlayer that features Daley traveling to various Commonwealth countries to tackle the pressing issue of homophobia.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony aired today, and Daley’s journey for this production came to a close as he stepped up to receive the final baton bearer for the ceremony. As he accepted the baton, folks carrying several Progress Pride Flags followed him on his journey with the intention of sending a message of anti-homophobia to the Commonwealth: we’re here, we’re queer, and we’re not going anywhere.
Watch his entrance in the tweet below:
Illegal to be Me saw Daley set off for some of the most homophobic countries in the Commonwealth. Throughout the course of the 60 minute production, Daley will speak to some of the most prominent queer sports people in those countries. For their safety, some decided to remain anonymous, but many braved the camera and are taking the opportunity to speak out.
Some of these athletes include Michael Gunning, Jamaica’s only openly gay athlete on their national team, swimmers Theresa Goh and Amini Fonua, who are both vocal advocates for the LGBTQ communities in both Singapore and Tonga, and Dutee Chand, India’s first openly gay athelete.
There are 36 countries competing at this years Commonwealth Games that still criminlize homosexuality, seven of which impose sentences of life imprisonment if caught. Daley is using Illegal to be Me to challenge the Commonwealth Games Federation to consider what they, as an organization, can do to help esure the safety of LGBTQ atheletes in those places, as well as advance the LGBTQ rights and protections among those communities.
“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,” said Daley, in a statement about the documentary.
Daley is vehement in his stance that LGBTQ athletes must be free from persecution and death in places where the Commonwealth Games Federation has influence. Protests are expected today at the closing ceremony as LGBTQ advocacy groups make their cries heard: reform is needed, and it is needed now.
Tom Daley: Illegal to be Me will air on BBC One and iPlayer on August 9, 2022. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all queer stuff!
