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| Participants from nine African countries at the historic gathering in KwaZulu Natal last month |
More than 30 African scholars, theologians, faith leaders, activists and students have issued a powerful declaration in support of LGBT equality on the continent.
The leaders from nine African countries gathered in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, between 28 to 31 August.
They met for an “historic consultation on human sexuality, religion and equality,” wrote Dr Michael Adee, Director of the Global Faith & Justice Project.
The event was organised by Adee, who is also an elder in the US Presbyterian Church, and Kapya Kaoma, a Zambian Anglican priest, from Political Research Associates.
The countries represented included Cameroon, Lesotho, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
On the final day of the consultation, the group met to discuss the way forward which “included the drafting of a call to reflection and action for the African continent,” which was dubbed The KwaZulu Natal Declaration.
The declaration expresses deep concern for the ongoing oppression of LGBT people on the continent and calls for acceptance of and support for sexual minorities by African churches, African governments, African scholars and African people.
Homosexuality is illegal in 38 African countries. Those found guilty can face severe penalties, including in some cases life imprisonment and even the death penalty.
Below is the declaration in full.
The KwaZulu Natal Declaration
We, African religious leaders, scholars, and members of civil society are highly concerned with the well-being of our beloved continent and with the demonization and criminalization of sexual minorities on the continent,
We, African religious leaders, scholars, and members of civil society met for a consultation in KwaZulu Natal on August 28-31, 2014, in response to the recent contentious debates regarding human sexuality on the continent. Recognizing that we are part of the global community, we met in South Africa, a country with a constitution that recognizes and protects the rights of sexual minorities,
Aware of the traditional leadership roles that academics, religious institutions, and churches in Africa have played in promoting social justice and human dignity,
Troubled by the misuse of religion to further marginalize and exclude sexual minorities from society and faith communities,
Noting the recommendations on human sexuality from the World Council of Churches 10th Assembly to the Central Committee, and the subsequent approval of the Terms of Reference for the Human Sexuality Reference Group to walk together in a pilgrimage of Justice and Peace from 2014-2021,
Observing the resolution on violence and other human rights violations based on real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in Africa issued in April 2014 by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights,
Acknowledging the deaths and threats of death, the violence, discrimination, that sexual minorities, women, and children face on the continent,
We call on all religious institutions, especially Christian Churches
- To care for the least amongst us as Christ has done,
- To create safe spaces for encounter with the sexual diversity within the body of Christ,
- To talk openly about sexual diversities and adversities in human sexuality,
- To break out of the vicious cycle of shame, secrecy, violence, and silence that demeans, demonizes and kills,
- To openly condemn violence against sexual minorities.
- To take full responsibility to reflect and produce credible scholarship on human sexuality,
- To conduct research that gives momentum to African local institutions, the Church, and indigenous knowledge and practices to further the understanding of human sexuality,
- To incorporate issues regarding human sexuality in the development of knowledge,
- To guide the public in understanding sexual diversity.
- To take seriously the mission of the state to protect all citizens, including those with disabilities, and all communities affected by, and living with HIV and AIDS,
- To seek legislative and social reforms that further the protection of and improvement of the livelihoods of sexual minorities,
- To dialogue with African local traditional, political and religious institutions to promote human dignity,
- To eliminate colonial sodomy laws and to oppose attempts to further criminalized sexual minorities.
- To respect the human rights of all people including sexual minorities,
- To oppose and desist from violence directed toward sexual minorities, and to support families and communities of sexual minorities.
- To respect while supporting Africa’s journey and processes towards a better understanding of human sexuality and socio-economic, political and religious inclusion of sexual minorities,
- To denounce all misleading information on issues of human sexuality.
- To support our commitment to produce and disseminate scholarly and general publications throughout Africa and beyond.
Related posts
The Network for People of all Sexes, Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities
and Expressions (GIN-SSOGIE) was founded following our first annual conference, held
in South Africa in January 2014. The idea for a global network of activists engaged in faith work around
issues of sex, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions
germinated at the 2012 International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender
and Intersex (ILGA) World Conference in Stockholm. GIN recognizes an
urgent need to eradicate the religion-based violence, criminalization
and persecution of our community.(See Introducing: the Global Interfaith Network for People of all Sexes, Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities and Expressions (GIN-SSOGIE) )
RESOLVED, that the Metropolitan Chicago Synod stand in
solidarity with those in our companion synod and throughout Africa who are experiencing
and resisting the rising tide of hatred and harsh anti-lbgti legislation in many African countries, and be it further . . . (See the full resolution at Resolution of the Metro Chicago Synod of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) for solidarity with those experiencing and resisting harsh anti-LGBTI legislation across Africa )
"Tell people at your synod assembly: in the African context, what the Church does is so important, it has so much influence . . . . " he said.(See What Happens When People Talk With Each Other (My Graeme Reid Moment) on the Scarry Thoughts blog.)
