On Monday 19th February 2007 the Primates (key Archbishops and Presiding Bishops) of the Anglican Communion will conclude their meeting in Dar es Salaam, East Africa .
The meeting is expected to end with a statement.
The Revd Richard Kirker, Chief executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) made the following remarks on Monday morning in anticipation of the final communiqué:
“The real test comes today. All the posturing of the last few days pales into insignificance compared to the difficulty of producing an agreed statement.”
“Lesbian and gay Anglicans can be sure of one thing, if there is agreement it will be at our cost. I have seen the Anglican machine working at close quarters for over 30 years, and when its stability is threatened they do not hesitate to sacrifice us for their survival. The knife has already pierced our flesh, the only question seems to be – How deeply will they cut?”
“Some 250 people came to London this past weekend for our Conference – Faith, Homophobia and Human Rights. The harsh and unsavoury realities we discussed there find their genesis in the sort of back-room deals currently going on in Tanzania.”
“It is a sad fact that the majority of lesbian and gay people believe they have as much to fear from faith communities as they do from evil political regimes. It is a deeply worrying fact that in many places faith communities and extremist politicians make common cause in an attempt to deny justice to lesbian and gay people.”
“Whatever the outcome of today’s deliberations, lesbian and gay Anglicans are not going away, nor are we going into hiding. We will be with you, praying loudly for you and making light of the yoke you place upon us. We will apologise for you because you look so ridiculous and make our faith seem so mean and nasty. We will encourage you to read our scriptures with new hearts and new minds and we will forgive you when you realise how much harm you have done to us in the name of Jesus.”
A Statement from the Faith, Homophobia and Human Rights Conference
The Faith, Homophobia, & Human Rights Conference, gathered in London on 17th February 2007, calls on all people of goodwill, of whatever faith or none, to affirm and celebrate human equality in all its dimensions and particularly to work for the elimination of any faith-based homophobia and institutionalised prejudice towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people.
We reject the activities of certain religious leaders, seeking exemptions from equality legislation, and attempts to base this on the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, such a right being for all, not just for some. We deplore the internalised homophobia within religious institutions that fails to confront prejudice and hate. We encourage and support those faith organisations, which express their commitment to diversity and equality in practice and policy. We believe that full civil rights for LGBT individuals are not only consistent with the right to religious freedom, but are rooted in the best and fundamental teachings of all major faiths; love, justice, compassion, and mercy, such values being shared by all who seek the common good.
We call for further progressive public policy that will deliver comprehensive and effective anti-discrimination legislation, including positive duties, on the basis of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, and belief. We call on the newly formed Commission for Equality and Human Rights to listen to the experience of LGBT faith networks and those who have suffered homophobia from and within religious organisations.
Today, the alliance of over fifty faith and secular organisations supporting this conference affirms and celebrates the values of human equality and social justice, rooted in the best of faith traditions, and shared by all who are committed to a fully human vision of a transformed society.
