Jay Leno joins LGBT protest against Sultan of Brunei
By Sam Rigby
US chat show host Jay Leno showed his support for the LGBT community by joining a protest against the Sultan of Brunei’s new anti-gay laws.
He joined leaders of Los Angeles’ LGBT communities, as well as other activists and concerned citizens, in protesting outside the Beverly Hills Hotel on Monday (May 5).
The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, owns the iconic Los Angeles hotel, as well as other properties worldwide, including Dorchester Collection hotels.
Last month, he introduced new laws that make anal sex punishable with death by stoning, alongside other offences like rape, adultery, extramarital sexual relations for Muslims.
Leno said: “What year is this? 1814? Come on people, it’s 2014. Evil flourishes when good people do nothing, and that is pretty much what this is.”
Meanwhile, the Motion Picture Television Fund have confirmed plans to withdraw next year’s pre-Oscars party from the Beverly Hills Hotel over their “deep concern” over the new Brunei legislation.
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