A Message from the Convener of Affirmation Scotland
On Saturday 17th February 2007 there was a unique conference held in London bringing together representatives of faith communities, trades unions, political parties and community groups. 250 people from 50 organisations agreed on one thing: the homophobia in religious institutions which creates fear and prejudice is deplorable.
The conference – Faith, Homophobia and Human Rights - was organised by LGCM (Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement.) It’s worth re-printing here the text of the conference declaration (not because it saves me having to write something original but because it says what I want to say and what I believe needs to be heard!)
CONFERENCE DECLARATION
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 transgender 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.
Details of the Conference Sponsors, Supporting Bodies, Speakers Panellists, and Workshops are available at www.lgcm.org.uk/fhconference
I think it’s a powerful statement. Of course, some people will object that it doesn’t quote the Bible, though it seems to me that the call for justice and the rejection of hatred mirror the demands of the 8th century prophets and the teachings of Jesus. That’s Biblical!
British society has changed hugely in the last 10 years with regard to the rights of lgbt persons: the age of consent, anti-discrimination legislation in employment, a legal structure for the recognition and protection of same-sex relationships, new rights for transsexual persons. The existence of gay people in government is no longer news or a sign of a degenerate society. The armed forces have embraced equality for lesbian and gay servicemen and women with the same enthusiasm with which they once chased them out!
So much has changed …. except, of course, in the churches where the right to discriminate is upheld as a human right! The Church of Scotland’s General Assembly in May will debate a report on human sexuality (it does this every decade or so and the last time was in 1994.) I’ll be very surprised if it says anything which is an advance on the 1994 report. There will be a statement about that report on this website as soon as possible after its publication.
So while society has become a place of equality the churches have limped along, tripping over the same Biblical texts, dressing its prejudices as truth and pretending that we’re all walking together happily (because human rights are worth sacrificing for the sake of unity.) It’s not surprising that the church is seen as an irrelevance. It’s not surprising that many intelligent people leave it or avoid it. It’s not surprising that there are fewer lgbt persons around who have hang-ups about their faith and their sexuality: many have abandoned the church altogether and others are avoiding it like the plague. Maybe they are quite right: why be involved in an organisation which seeks to institutionalise patriarchy and prejudice! It’s not surprising that many lgbt people are creating ways to express and nurture their faith without involving themselves in the traditional churches.
And what of those of us who hang in there? Well, I feel that I don’t need the church to approve of my sexuality or my relationship. It would be nice but my self-worth and identity do not depend on it and I’m not prepared to wait. This has been a journey for me and my faith but I now believe that the grace of God embraces me no matter what the church says. My partner and I have frequently found the presence and blessing of God in our life together. We have many friends – in the churches and outside – who support us. We follow Jesus as best we can and anyone who says we don’t is disobedient to the command of Jesus not to judge.
The strongest defence lgbt persons have, in the face of prejudice and attack, is our refusal to behave as if we are oppressed. I have a t-shirt (bought in a great wee store in Chicago years ago) which bears the statement: “we will not be diminished by what diminishes us.” Amen to that.
[February 2007]