Gay rights activists recently tried to ‘claim’ Antarctica in the name of LGBT equality… but they’re not the first to try the stunt.

Back in 2004, a number of activists upset with Australia’s anti-LGBT policies departed for the Coral Sea Islands – a group of uninhabited islets east of the Great Barrier Reef.

The group planted a flag on the island of Cato and claimed the land as their own, naming their new nation the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands.

YouTube channel MicroNation released a video recapping the history of the tiny country – from its foundation to its ‘war’ with Australia.



Australian national Dale Parker Anderson – who claims to be a direct descendent of King Edward II – was declared Emperor of the new nation, and took the name ‘Emperor Dale’. The settlers named their primary camp site ‘Heaven’ after the notorious London nightclub.

The Kingdom declared war on Australia in September 2004 – after the country refused to recognise their claim to the islands, and amid plans to reinforce a ban on same-sex marriage.

Emperor Dale claims: “Under the Untied Nations and International Law external overseas territories of all governments have the legal right to self government and self determination.

“The Coral Sea Island are international recognised by the government of Australia and by all nations and by the United Nations as an external overseas territory of Australia and as Australia has passed into legislation homophobic laws that clearly discriminate against its homosexual people the gay and lesbian activists presumes that the full force of International Law applies to the Kingdoms Independence.



“The activists also presume that neither England nor Australia has any rights to the Coral Sea Islands, because both governments are unable to provide to the gay government any recording of anyone formally proclaiming the Coral Sea Islands as part of the British/Australian Crown.”

The islands operate a policy similar to Israel’s Law of Return for Jewish people – meaning that all gays and lesbians are automatically eligible to claim citizenship.

However, the territory nor its citizenship is not recognised by any country around the world.