In the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, a prominent choir leader has called upon King Charles III to shed his “traditional reticence” and take a vocal stance on issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community. Dr Hsien Chew, founder and co-ordinator of the Proud Voices LGBT choir network, expressed the need for the incoming monarch to “speak up for diversity and plurality” as a crucial step towards promoting inclusion.
Dr Chew, who was honored alongside others at Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday honours in 2022, believes that King Charles III should actively advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and amplify the message of diversity. “Unfortunately, I have the impression that the monarch has traditionally been reticent in public about LGBTQ+ diversity,” he shared in an interview with Metro.co.uk. He further emphasized the significance of King Charles III’s opinion, stating that it could set an aspirational goal for UK society.
While acknowledging the progress made during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, such as the partial decriminalization of homosexuality and the enactment of marriage equality, Dr Chew hopes that King Charles III will continue to champion the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to existing achievements, he urged the new monarch to focus on equality for transgender individuals and address broader social challenges, including gender inequality, racism, poverty, neurodiversity, and mental health disparities.
Notably, King Charles III, as the head of the Church of England, also has the opportunity to support LGBTQ+ individuals who feel rejected by their faith. The Church of England, despite recent efforts to repair its relationship with the LGBTQ+ community, still maintains a stance that considers gay sex a sin. While acknowledging the church’s acceptance of responsibility for past homophobic abuse and its consideration of gender-neutral language for God, Dr Chew underscored the importance of embracing same-sex marriage within the institution.
Dr Chew concluded by emphasizing the need to include LGBTQ+ voices in decision-making processes, as it fosters understanding, addresses challenges, and combats marginalization. As King Charles III ascends to the throne, many hope that he will seize the opportunity to shape a new era of LGBTQ+ rights, inclusion, and progress.
