Scottish actor Alan Cumming has given back the OBE he received 14 years ago for his work towards equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community.
The 58-year-old announced today (Friday, January 27) that he had handed back the prestigious honour, reports the Metro. Alan received his OBE in 2009 for his "activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community" in the States.
The actor said a number of factors contributed to his decision - including the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and the "way the British Empire profited at the expense (and death) of indigenous peoples" had "opened" his eyes.
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Speaking on social media on his birthday, Alan told his 479,000 followers that he wanted to share with them "something I recently did for myself".
The actor wrote on Instagram: "I returned my OBE. Fourteen 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 went on to discuss the reasons why he chose to hand back the honour, explaining: "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!"
Fellow Scottish stars congratulated Alan on his decision, as football journalist Tam Cowan said: "Well played, Alan, and happy birthday! I was awarded a knighthood last year for services to Stuart Cosgrove, but I handed it back as his team of round-the-clock carers do most of the work.
"Sir Tam was great (I once got an upgrade on the Citylink bus from Motherwell to Edinburgh) but now my conscience is clear."
Other fans of Alan also noted their pride in his decision, as one Instagram user wrote: "Please can I gift you the newly created title “Order of Being Excellent” ? In fact, let’s make it “Knight of Being Excellent” Arise, Sir Alan."
Another said: "What an amazing and powerful statement to make. I hope many will follow your lead and demur if offered an OBE or any similar award."
And a third wrote: "Good on you! I'm so pleased you've returned it, not least because it draws attention to the criminal legacy of the British Empire. It's time to reward citizens with something free of that taint. A living wage would be a good start."
And finally, one concluded: "Alan. This made me cry. The generations of damage the empire created is carried by all of us. Happy Birthday."
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