Alan Cumming returns OBE over ‘toxic’ British Empire

Alan Cumming announced on Friday that he has handed back his OBE to mark his 58th birthday. in a statement shared to Instagram, the actor said: “Today is my 58th birthday and I want to tell you about something I recently did for myself. I returned my OBE.

“14 years ago, I was incredibly grateful to receive it in the 2009 Queen’s birthday honours list, for it was awarded not just for my job as an actor but ‘for activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community, USA’.

“Back then the Defence of Marriage Act ensured that same sex couples couldn’t get married or enjoy the same basic legal rights as straight people, and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ensured that openly gay, lesbian or bisexual people were barred from serving in the military. (Incidentally both these policies were instituted by the Clinton administration).”

Alan explained that he was “shocked and delighted” to receive the honour at the time. He also thanked the Queen and those who make up her birthday honours list for “bringing attention to the inaction of the US government on this issue”.

He had said that the award made him “very proud to be British and galvanised as an American”.

However, Alan now says that his feelings have changes following Queen Elizabeth’s death and more conversations about the monarchy and the British Empire.

He continued today: “The Queen’s death and the ensuing conversations about the role of monarchy and especially the way the British Empire profited at the expense (and death) of indigenous peoples across the world really opened my eyes.

“Also, thankfully, times and laws in the US have changed, and the great good the award brought to the LGBTQ+ cause back in 2009 is now less potent than the misgivings I have being associated with the toxicity of empire (OBE stands for Officer of the British Empire).

“So I returned my award, explained my reasons and reiterated my great gratitude for being given it in the first place. I’m now back to being plain old Alan Cumming again. Happy birthday to me!”

More to follow…