Press Releases

  1. LGCM welcomes the United Nations resolution on the rights of LGBT people

    22 June 2011

    The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM)welcomes last Friday’s decision by the United Nations Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution to document discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons.

    A statement by the United Nations said that the Council requested the High Commissioner initiate a study to be completed by December “to document discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, in all regions of the world, and how international human rights law could be used to end violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”

    The resolution was passed narrowly by 23 states to 19 with 3 abstentions. The motion expressed “grave concern at acts of violence and discrimination, in all regions of the world, committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.”

    Rev Sharon Ferguson, Chief Executive of LGCM, said: “This is very good news indeed for people around the world whose sexual orientation in itself is enough to put their lives at risk. Obviously it won’t end discrimination and the very real threat of death that many LGBT people face but it draws a clear line for the first time and says that the world is watching.”

    LGCM notes with deep concern and sadness however that the nations that voted against the resolution did so very largely from religious convictions about homosexuality, whether these be Christian or Muslim beliefs.

    Rev Sharon Ferguson added: “We cannot deny the deeply worrying, though entirely expected, rejection of the resolution by nations whose attitudes to LGBT people are based on religious understandings of human sexuality and relationships. We continue to work and pray with other LGBT faith-based organisations to challenge such hatred and bigotry which is not in accord with the deepest principles of either Christianity or Islam.”


  2. LGCM calls for a new openness and integrity in the appointment of bishops in the Church of England.

    15 June 2011

    The Very Rev Colin Slee (1945-2010)

    The recently leaked letter written by the late Very Rev Colin Slee, former dean of Southwark Cathedral, exposed the turmoil in which the Church of England leadership found itself in trying to block the appointment of openly gay priest Jeffrey John to the post of Bishop of Southwark. Slee, as well as writing a devastating account of the behaviour of Archbishops Williams and Sentamu, revealed in his letter that there are a number of gay bishops who have been “less than honest” about their personal relationships, “who, in a conspiracy of silence, have been appointed to senior positions”.

    Rev Sharon Ferguson, Chief Executive of LGCM said: “This latest revelation about the Church of England causes me grave concern and confirms the hypocrisy and institutional homophobia that led to the blocking of Jeffrey John to the bishopric. Furthermore it encourages a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ situation which will lead to a seriously compromised leadership and moral example.”

    Since the leak of this memorandum Colin Coward of Changing Attitude has written that to his knowledge there are 13 bishops who are gay, including 5 in the House of Bishops.

    LGCM remains consistent in its conviction that loving, faithful and stable relationships among the clergy and laity are entirely consistent with Christian conviction and witness. As an organisation LGCM supports the full acceptance of openly gay bishops and believes that sexual orientation should not be a bar to appointment to the bishopric.

    While this is far from being the situation in the Church of England at present, LGCM urges that the Church is at least consistent with Issues in Human Sexuality and that it does not allow sexual orientation per se to be a reason to block promotion to the role of bishop.

    Rev Sharon Ferguson added: “The situation is one of sheer hypocrisy. The decision to block Canon John was not based upon the Church’s own position, but was simply one of bigotry and discrimination. Indeed the church’s own lawyers have implied that barring a candidate on the basis of being open about sexual orientation is illegal. The proposed interrogation of candidates who are suspected of being gay not only further extends this blatant discrimination but will likely also encourage some of those being considered for promotion to compromise their integrity thus doing immense damage to such candidates, and those to whom they minister.”


  • LGCM supports call for Pope Benedict XVI to support the rights of LGBT Christians.

    10 June 2011
    Image of Pope BenedictThe Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) is today supporting a letter to the Pope from the European Forum of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Christian Groups calling for the Pope to uphold the human rights and dignity of LGBT Christians.

    The Forum, meeting today in Rome as part of the Europride celebrations, appeals to the Pope to issue a clear statement against homophobic violence and any pressure by religious authorities to undergo reparative therapy, which brings with it severe emotional damage. The letter also calls for believers’ right to be involved in a loving same sex relationships without fear of negative consequences from church hierarchies. It calls upon Pope Benedict XVI to respect the human rights and the personal integrity of LGBT people. 

    The European Forum represents 44 Christian LGBT member groups from 23 European countries. The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement is a member of the Forum and Rev Sharon Ferguson, Chief Executive, helped compose the final version of the letter originally drafted by the Polish group Faith and Rainbow. It was approved by the Forum’s Annual General Meeting in early May, and marks a new era of courage and open dialogue which is emerging among LGBT Catholics and their supporters.

    The Cutting Edge Consortium, a grouping of both faith-based and non-religious organisations in the UK, has also lent its support to the letter. LGCM is a member of CEC.

    Martin Pendergast of CEC and LGCM said: “Rather than defining LGBT Catholics, their parents and families, as persons with problems to be solved, we hope that the Church will recognise the contributions and gifts they bring to the building up of the Body of Christ, the rich catholicity of the People of God.”

    Rev Sharon Ferguson added, “As a member organisation of both the European Forum and the Cutting Edge Consortium LGCM is proud to add its voice in support of this call to Pope Benedict to end the discrimination and fear that pervades the Catholic Church and which impacts negatively and often in life-threatening ways upon the life of LGBT people around the world. This impact is most dangerous where governments and politicians use traditional Catholic attitudes against LGBT people as a defence of their unacceptable hate.”

    The letter is being presented today at the conference LGBT people and Christian churches in Europe: fears and opportunities for a full acceptance and inclusion, which is part of a programme of events on Faith and Homosexuality that for the first time is included in the Europride 2011 that will take place in Rome from 1 – 12 June.