Led by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, round 30 demonstrators gathered outdoors Aston Corridor on Thursday.
Mr Tatchell stated he was making an attempt to “increase public consciousness of homophobia within the Commonwealth” as he joined members of the Out and Proud African LGBTI group, who he stated had fled persecution of their dwelling international locations.
Protesters wore T-shirts displaying the phrases “we exist” amid chants of “freedom, equality, homosexuality” as placards which learn “abolish anti-LGBT+ legal guidelines within the Commonwealth” have been displayed.
Mr Tatchell stated: “We’re right here with LGBT+ individuals from Commonwealth international locations who've fled persecution.
“A few of these individuals have been arrested, jailed, tortured and even subjected to makes an attempt to kill them with the sanction of their very own Commonwealth international locations.
“It's unconscionable – it's in defiance of the Commonwealth constitution.”
Mr Tatchell continued: “Our essential position right this moment is to lift public consciousness of homophobia within the Commonwealth.
“We additionally wish to level out that the Commonwealth Video games Federation says that these video games are open for everybody – however that’s not true.
“An LGBT+ athlete in a Commonwealth nation the place homosexuality is towards the regulation would by no means be chosen for his or her nationwide crew irrespective of how good they have been.
“They’d be put in jail as an alternative.”
It got here after Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated he's “supremely assured” there might be a legacy from the £778million of taxpayers’ cash that has gone into the Video games, regardless of them being held throughout a cost-of-living disaster.
The Video games open on Thursday, with Prince Charles in attendance to symbolize the Queen.
The outgoing Prime Minister informed the Commonwealth Enterprise Discussion board within the West Midlands metropolis: “You'll be able to really feel the joy right here on this mighty metropolis of Birmingham as a result of the athletes are already right here of their 1000's, from 56 international locations, 72 nations and territories world wide.”
He added: “Already you may hear the voices on some components of the media of those that doubt that the entire thing might be value it.
“And folks say, can we afford it? Ought to now we have executed it with the strain on the price of residing? Will there be a legacy from the £778million of taxpayers’ cash that has gone into these Video games?
“And so proper now, I need you to know I'm right here to inform you that I'm supremely assured that the reply to that query is sure. A thousand occasions, sure. I say so as a result of I keep in mind, virtually precisely 10 years in the past, an equivalent second of nerves simply earlier than the start of the London 2012 Video games.”
Mr Johnson, who was London Mayor on the time of the 2012 Summer time Olympics, insisted they “proceed even to this present day to ship 1000's of jobs, progress, regeneration” within the capital.
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