Alan Cumming has returned the honorary OBE award he obtained from the Queen in 2009 saying his eyes had been opened to the “toxicity” of the British Empire within the wake of her demise in September.

The X-Males actor introduced he had handed again the OBE – which stands for Officer of the Order of the British Empire – in a put up on Instagram to mark his 58th birthday.

He stated he had felt “extremely grateful” to obtain the award in 2009, particularly as a result of it was not only for his achievements as an actor but in addition for his activism, campaigning for equal rights for the homosexual and lesbian neighborhood within the U.S.

“Again then the Defence of Marriage Act ensured that same-sex {couples} couldn’t get married or take pleasure in the identical primary authorized rights as straight individuals, and Don’t Ask, Don’t Inform ensured that overtly homosexual, lesbian or bisexual individuals had been barred from serving within the army,” he wrote.

The Scottish-born actor, who has lived in New York since 2000, the place he’s at the moment internet hosting the U.S. model of The Traitors, stated his emotions towards the award had modified.

“The following conversations concerning the function of the monarchy and particularly the best way the British Empire profited on the expense (and demise) of indigenous peoples the world over actually opened my eyes,” he wrote.

He added that situations for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood within the U.S. had developed for the higher.

“Fortunately, instances and legal guidelines within the US have modified, and the nice good the award delivered to the LGBTQ+ trigger again in 2009 is now much less potent than the misgivings I’ve being related to the toxicity of empire,” he wrote.

Cumming stated he had returned the OBE stating his causes for the transfer similtaneously reiterating his gratitude for being given it within the first place.