Alan Cumming returns British award to ‘toxic empire’
Jenny Goldsberry
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Actor Alan Cumming returned his Officer of the Order of the British Empire award Friday after he “opened his eyes” to the empire’s effects.
Cumming received the award on behalf of his activism for the LGBTQ community as a gay actor. He made the announcement that he’d be returning the award on his 58th birthday.
“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 … 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,” Cumming captioned his Instagram photo. “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.”
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Cumming received the award in 2009 when gay marriage wasn’t yet legalized nationwide in the United States. The actor advocated change, which resulted in his award “for activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community, USA.” Now that the laws have changed, on account of the Respect for Marriage Act, Cumming felt the award took on even less meaning.
“I am really shocked and delighted to receive this honor. I am especially happy to be honored for my activism as much as for my work,” Cummings said in an acceptance speech at the time. “I see this honor as encouragement to go on fighting for what I believe is right and for what I take for granted as a U.K. citizen … It makes me very proud to be British and galvanized as an American.” Cumming has been a U.S. citizen since 2008.
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This birthday falls on 78th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkena, otherwise known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, which the royal family celebrated by hosting two survivors of genocide. Buckingham Palace has not responded to Cumming’s return of the award and has instead highlighted the holiday.