Alan Cumming has returned the Order of the British Empire (OBE) he received in 2009 as part of the Queen’s birthday honors list.

The X-Men actor said he was “grateful” but now sees “the toxicity of empire.”

Cumming, who also hosts the American version of The Traitors, stated that he received the OBE not only for his acting but also for his “activism for equal rights for the homosexual and lesbian population in the United States.”

He continued, “Thankfully, times and legislation in the United States have changed.”

Since he “recently did it for me,” the Scottish actor, writer, and presenter returned the medal on his 58th birthday.

The Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell prevented openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual people from serving in the military in the United States in 2009, he noted. Both of these regulations were enacted by the Clinton administration.

“The fight for equality for the LGBT population in the United States is something I am very passionate about. And I see this honor as an encouragement to continue fighting for what I believe is right and for what I take for granted as a UK citizen,” he stated upon receiving an OBE.

However, Cummings stated that fourteen years later, the death of the Queen and the accompanying discussions over the role of the monarchy and how the British Empire profited at the expense (and murder) of indigenous peoples across the globe opened his eyes.

He said, “Also, luckily, events and laws in the United States have changed, and the immense benefit the award brought to the LGBTQ+ cause in 2009 is now less effective than the qualms I have regarding the toxicity of empire.

Officer of the Order of the British Empire is what OBE stands for.

“Therefore, I returned my award, explained my reasoning, and expressed my deep appreciation for receiving it in the first place. I am currently back to being simply Alan Cumming. Best wishes for my birthday!

Instinct was the first network drama on US television to have a gay lead character. And he was proud of that accomplishment in 2019.

At the time, Cumming wrote on Instagram that he was delighted to have been a part of a production. In which “millions of people will have watched a same-sex marriage depicted for the first time.”

The actor has played a variety of roles on stage and TV, including the BBC comedy The High Life and Hamlet for the English Touring Theatre, as well as the Good Wife and a Broadway adaptation of Cabaret in the United States.

Cumming co-hosted a Channel 4 travel show with actor Miriam Margolyes.

In 2015, the Open University awarded him an honorary degree for his contributions to education and culture.