Brunei: Ellen DeGeneres urges ‘rise up’ as anti-gay laws come into force

Ellen DeGeneres has urged people to “rise up” against new laws coming into force in Brunei today (3 April) which will see gay people stoned to death.

The comedian and talk-show host posted on Twitter and said people “need to do something now.”

“Please boycott these hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei,” DeGeneres continued. “Raise your voices now. Spread the word. Rise up.”

She also tweeted a list of the hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei, which can be read in full here.

High-profile figures from across the world have condemned new anti-gay laws in Brunei

A number of other high profile figures have also come forward to condemn the new anti-gay laws as they come into force.

Robert Palladino, Deputy Spokesperson under US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said Brunei’s new laws run counter to their international human rights obligations.

“All governments have an obligation to ensure that all people can freely enjoy the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms to which they are entitled,” Palladino said.

“The United States strongly opposes violence, criminalization and discrimination targeting vulnerable groups, including women at risk of violence, religious and ethnic minorities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons.

“Please boycott these hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei. Raise your voices now. Spread the word. Rise up.”

– Ellen DeGeneres

“We continue to encourage Brunei to ratify and implement the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which it signed in 2015, and to sign, ratify, and implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”

The laws were also condemned by Ron Galperin, LA Controller, who called on city residents to boycott hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei in a Facebook post.

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