Gay protest today in Canterbury against Primates

LGBTI vigil today, Friday 15 January 2016
1pm-3pm
Cathedral House, Canterbury Cathedral 1pm
Lodge press conference 2.30pm

In protest at the decision by Anglican Primates to punish pro-gay equality churches in North America, and their refusal to defend the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) Christians and their allies, mostly from Africa, are holding a vigil outside Canterbury Cathedral from 1pm today.

Vigil participant, Peter Tatchell, Director of the human rights organisation, the Peter Tatchell Foundation, said:

“The Primate’s decision is intolerant, cruel and devoid of Christian love and compassion. It gives comfort and succor to homophobic pastors in the church who are already leading witch-hunts against LGBTI people in countries like Uganda and Nigeria. Instead of being a Good Samaritan to persecuted LGBTI people, the Anglican Communion is siding with the persecutors. Its defence of homophobic injustice echoes the church’s defence of slavery and its opposition to votes for women in past centuries.”

Another vigil member, Edwin Sesange, a gay Ugandan and Director of the African LGBTI organisation, Out and Proud Diamond Group, added:

“We asked the Primates to listen to our voices of suffering. They ignored us and have punished our friends and allies in the US Episcopal church. The Anglican Communion has turned its back on LGBTI people; defending homophobic discrimination and exclusion. As African people, we feel threatened and menaced by the Anglican Communion. Many of the Primates are actively stirring hatred and discrimination against LGBTI people. They support repressive homophobic laws. There is no mercy or compassion in their hearts.”

Today’s vigil is organised by the African LGBTI organisation, the Out and Proud Diamond Group, and supported by Peter Tatchell Foundation, House of Rainbow Fellowship and the Kaleidoscope Trust.

We are calling upon the Anglican Primates to:

* Listen to LGBTI people.

* Preach a gospel of love for all, including LGBTI people.

* Support LGBTI people inside and outside the Church.

* Oppose the persecution of LGBTI people.

* Revoke their disciplinary action against the Episcopal church.

"Our appeal is for the Primates to listen to LGBTI people. It saddens us that many of them seem unwilling to do so. They made their decision affecting us without inviting and listening to the LGBTI faithful. We are African LGBTI people, many of us Anglicans, who simply want to be heard. We want an opportunity to speak to the Primates. It is a fair and reasonable request which they have turned aside," said Juliet Akao, the Ugandan activist and a spokesperson for the African LGBTI organisation, Out and Proud Diamond Group.

Peter Tatchell, Director of the human rights organisation, the Peter Tatchell Foundation added:

“The Anglican Communion keeps on taking decisions about LGBTI people without listening to their witness and suffering. In some parts of the world, its member churches side with homophobic, tyrannical regimes that criminalise same-sex relations, ban the advocacy of LGBTI equality and outlaw membership of LGBTI organisations. All we are asking is for the primates to invite, hear and respond in a loving, compassionate way to the concerns of LGBTI communities in their home countries and worldwide. To exclude us from their deliberations in Canterbury this week is not a Christian response to our appeal for dialogue and inclusion. “

The Archbishop of Canterbury has hosted 38 Primates in Canterbury this week to reflect and pray together concerning the future of the Anglican Communion. The Anglican Communion is a family of churches, spread across 165 countries, with 85 million members.

"The Anglican Church has a responsibility to oppose the badge of stigma, shame and harm attached to homosexuality in many countries. It is their responsibility to bring an end to the inhuman treatment of LGBTI people. In many countries, for example in Uganda and Nigeria, Church leaders are openly spreading very damaging messages about LGBTI people and their allies. Many pastors have lost their ministries in the Church because of either being LGBTI or sympathising with gay equality. This can no longer be the position of the Church towards people who were created in God's image according to the Bible," said Edwin Sesange, a gay Ugandan and Director of the African LGBTI organisation Out and Proud Diamond Group.

"It is unfortunate that there is a blatant misunderstanding of homosexuality by the African churches and Bishops; a complete divorce from the theology of inclusion. It saddens me that little time and effort has been given to these issues on the continent (of Africa). We have asked the question 'What would Jesus do?' LGBT people have the right to be called to, and identify with, the church. It is my hope and prayer that the church will have a change of mind. I don't believe schism is the answer but a truth towards openness to theology and the Holy Spirit on this matter," said Rev Jide Macaulay, the gay Nigerian founder & CEO House Of Rainbow Fellowship.

ENDS

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