People all over the world are taking action to express their disapproval of Brunei’s gay stoning law.
Earlier this week, Brunei implemented part of reforms that were enacted in 2013 that allow stoning as a possible punishment for violating the country’s anti-sodomy law.
The U.S. has yet to condemn the law, but there are people all over the world taking a stance against the law.
Related: The world is condemning Brunei’s gay stoning law, but America is just vaguely ‘concerned’
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A lawmaker in the United Kingdom is calling for Brunei’s membership in the Commonwealth to be suspended.
Labour Member of Parliament Khalid Mahmood called the law “backwards” and “heartbreaking.”
“It is also a clear breach of Brunei’s obligations under the Commonwealth charter in respect of human rights and there surely must be immediate consequences for Brunei if they press ahead of these proposals in terms of membership of the Commonwealth,” he said.
The University of Aberdeen will consider suspending an honorary doctorate it awarded Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
“In light of this new information this matter will be raised as a matter of urgency with the University’s Honorary Degrees Committee,” a university spokesperson told Gay Star News.
The University of Oxford and King’s College London also awarded the sultan honorary degrees, but they said that they will not consider rescinding those.
Ads for Royal Brunei Airlines are being removed from the London public transportation system.
Brunei Ad in London Tube lmao. pic.twitter.com/6Gpkvocmsu
— Nigel Tang (@iamnigeltang) March 20, 2019
The ads describe Brunei as an “abode of peace” and boast about its skyscrapers.
Transport for London, which received a complaint about the ads from a London Assembly member, said that they were “compliant with our advertising policy” when they were accepted, but they are now considered a matter of “great public sensitivity and controversy.”
Celebrities are joining George Clooney’s call for a boycott of several hotels owned by the sultan of Brunei. Ellen Degeneres tweeted her support for the boycott.
Tomorrow, the country of #Brunei will start stoning gay people to death. We need to do something now. Please boycott these hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei. Raise your voices now. Spread the word. Rise up. pic.twitter.com/24KJsemPGH
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) April 2, 2019
Tennis legend Billie Jean King called the law an “atrocity.”
This atrocity begins today in #Brunei. Please join me and spread the word about the boycott of hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei. https://t.co/GcJnlbq5nb
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) April 3, 2019
Elton John denounced the law.
I commend my friend, #GeorgeClooney, for taking a stand against the anti-gay discrimination and bigotry taking place in the nation of #Brunei – a place where gay people are brutalized, or worse – by boycotting the Sultan’s hotels.https://t.co/8ymurW7hqm
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) March 30, 2019
Dustin Lance Black said that people who go to the hotels are supporting “murderers.”
If you continue to stay at or frequent the Beverly Hills Hotel, you are guilty of financially supporting these murderers. #BoycottBrunei https://t.co/QjO5bLXm27
— Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) March 28, 2019
Singer Nancy Sinatra said that she has been boycotting the Beverly Hills Hotel for years.
I've boycotted The Beverly Hills Hotel for years, even though it has been a big part of my life, starting with Mrs. O'Kane's ballet class when I was 4 years old. Holidays, brunches & my younger daughter's wedding! Most of all I miss the Polo Lounge, great bar, but I won't go back
— Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) March 29, 2019
Other people have denounced the hotels on social media, so much so that they had to remove their accounts.
One of the hotels, the Dorchester in London, said that they deactivated their “social pages,” citing “personal abuse” they were receiving.
In light of recent events. pic.twitter.com/a8SoivIrX7
— DorchesterCollection (@DC_LuxuryHotels) April 3, 2019
While their Twitter account is still active, their Facebook page has been taken offline.