A unique and ground-breaking conference takes place all day on Saturday 17 February in London's thriving East End melting pot dealing with Faith, Homophobia and Human Rights.
Sponsored and supported by over 50 organisations, from the Home Office to the TUC, from Justice to the Gay Police Association, and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to BT Openreach, over 200 are expected to attend at the Rich Mix in Bethnal Green.
"By any standard the amount of grassroots and mainstream support for the conference is amazing," said Richard Kirker, LGCM’s Chief Executive today. "This has the potential to forge partnerships and cooperation across a wider range of bodies than has ever been achieved. All the bodies supporting the conference realise how important it is to stand together against the threat from homophobia, particularly when cloaked in religious language and by faith leaders."
The conference was conceived, and is managed by, the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM). It will hear from leading public figures and specialist speakers, including
- Lord (Chris) Smith, former Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, chairman-designate Advertising Standards Authority
- Paul Cahill, Chair, Gay Police Association (GPA)
- Sandhya Drew, Barrister, Tooks Chambers. Specialist in Equality and Human Rights Law, member of the Discrimination Law Association.
- Rev Malcolm Duncan, Leader, Faithworks
- Revd Giles Fraser, Team Rector of Putney and lecturer in Philosophy at Wadham College, Oxford. He is a regular columnist for the Guardian and Church Times and contributor to Radio 4's Thought for the Day. President of Inclusive Church.
- Ali Hilli, Iraqi LGBT
- Kay Carberry, Assistant General Secretary, TUC. Currently an Equal Opportunities Commissioner (EOC). In December 2006 she was appointed to the Commission on Equality and Human Rights (CEHR)
- Arpita Dutt, Partner, Russell Jones and Walker, member Discrimination Law Association and Employment Lawyers Association. Chair London Anti-Racist Alliance
The conference will be Opened by Cllr Brian Coleman, Chair of the Greater London Assembly
"The Gay Police Association," said Paul M Cahill, its Chairman, today, "in partnership with The Home Office, is pleased to sponsor this unique and important conference. The experiences of the Gay Police Association are well documented and identify a clear link between the uncompromising teachings of some faiths towards gay people and the rise in homophobic hate crime. Homophobia in all it forms and regardless of its justification is a scourge on society and causes immeasurable damage to the lives of many gay men and women. We hope that this conference, will be a catalyst for honest dialogue between the gay community and faith communities and an opportunity to identify common ground so that we can all unite against hatred."
The conference is expected to endorse a Statement which says, in part, "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 (CEHR) to listen to the experience of LGBT faith networks and those who have suffered homophobia from and within religious organisations."
The key issues to be addressed will focus on questions such as:
Are faith groups entitled to expect their views on sexuality to take precedence in society over those who hold no faith? How does society decide between the competing and often contradictory claims made by faith groups?
What do you do if you are a person of faith committed to full equality for all irrespective of sexual orientation? How do you think the state, public bodies, local authorities and employers can show respect to lesbian gay, bisexual and transgender people, as well as to those people of faith who do not want lesbian and gay people to have full equality? How should these issues be resolved in a diverse, multi-cultural society?
24 workshops and 2 panel sessions will also feature as part of the conference.
The full list of Sponsors, Supporting bodies, programme and location details can be found at www.lgcm.org.uk/fhconference
The conference begins at 9.00
Media are invited to apply for accreditation to
Richard Kirker - 020 7739 1249 or 07798 805428
Interviews and photo opportunities will be offered.
For more information:
Conference Media Officer: Martin Pendergast - 0797 9308130 or 020 8986 0807
LGCM Press Officer: Revd Martin Reynolds - 01633215841
Richard Kirker
Chief Executive
Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement [LGCM]
Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London, E2 6HG
Office Tel & Fax 020 7739 1249
www.lgcm.org.uk
lgcm@lgcm.org.uk
Registered
Charity No 1048842.