Attitude Awards: Tom Daley vows to make it his mission to change draconian LGBTQ+ laws around the world

Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards - London
Tom Daley attending the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards
PA

Tom Daley has said he will “make it his mission” to ban countries with draconian LGBTQ+ laws from hosting or competing major sporting events.

The Olympic champion, 27, was speaking at the Attitude Awards on Wednesday night where he picked up the sport award.

The sports star said: “There are still 10 countries that punish being gay by death that were still allowed to compete in the Olympic games. I think that is quite shocking to a lot of people. It is all well and good to speak about those things, but I think it is really important to try and create change.

Attitude Awards 2021

The Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards
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“I will make it my mission over the next - well hopefully before the Paris Olympics in 2024 - to make it so that countries that criminalise and make it punishable by death for LGBTQ+ people are not allowed to compete at the Olympic Games.

“For those ten countries where you cannot be yourself, they should not be allowed to compete in the Olympic Games. They should not be able to host the Olympic Games. The World Cup in Qatar coming up - it has extreme rules about LGBTQ people and women. And I think it should not be allowed to hold such a sporting event.”

Daley paid tribute to his producer husband Dustin Lance Black and their young son Bobby.

He also paid tribute to his synchronised diving partner Matty Lee, with whom he won gold in Tokyo in the 10m platform category.

Frankie Bridge, Stephen Fry, Alan Carr, Ashley Roberts, Denise Van Outen, Myleene Klass and Fred Siriex were among the stars at the Attitude Awards on Wednesday.

Steps - the pop group made up of Lee Latchford-Evans, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee. Faye Tozer and Ian “H” Watkins - won the icon award.

The group, who also headlined the awards, were formed in 1997. They have released seven studio albums - disbanding and reforming twice in the past 24 years.

“It is called the dinosaurs of pop, the last band standing award,” joked H.

“No, we are super excited and honoured to be here and to have been honoured with an award. Next year is our 25th anniversary. When we started out, people laughed at us… but the LGBTQ+ community embraced us and have supported us from the start. We exist because of the community and we are so honoured to be accepting this award from a community that means everything to us.”

The awards are to benefit the Attitude Magazine Foundation which raises money for LGBT causes.

Prizes were handed out at the ceremony held at the Camden Roundhouse in London which featured musical performances from Steps, Paige and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Bimini.

Television presenter Adele Roberts was given the broadcast prize while Netflix series Sex Education was named as the winner of the gamechanger award.

Actor Billy Porter picked up the man of the year prize while Channel 4 series It’s A Sin won the inspiration award.

Bimini won the style prize, actor Chella Man won the hero award and West End star Max Harwood won the breakthrough award for his role in the musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

He dedicated his win to his parents who were in the crowd. He told the Standard they had been his “biggest supporters and let him be his true authentic self” throughout his life and career.

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