Queen Elizabeth II has requested television time to sign what is being called ahistoric pledge of non-discrimination in the Commonwealth. "We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds." Other grounds is meant to refer to GLBT people, but toned down to defer to members of the Commonwealth that still have draconian gay laws. While it sounds like a cop out to me, diplomatic sources say "The impact of this statement on gay and women’s rights should not be underestimated. Nothing this progressive has ever been approved by the United Nations. And it is most unusual for the Queen to request to sign documents in public, never mind call the cameras in."

The word "implacably" also sounds an extraordinarily strong note given the Crown's normally veddy restrained rhetoric.

Good for her!

"We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds." Other grounds is meant to refer to GLBT people, but toned down to defer to members of the Commonwealth that still have draconian gay laws.

'Toned down' is certainly one way of putting it, though it's kind of hard to tell who's now implacably inside the tent and who remains on the outside.

Guess I'll find out when the Garden Party invites go in the mail.