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Deepen understanding of sexuality, KwaZulu Natal Declaration urges

By staff writers
September 12, 2014

In Africa and beyond, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are often persecuted. Over thirty African religious leaders, scholars and members of civil society issued a KwaZulu Natal Declaration opposing violence and misinformation.

The gathering, sponsored by the World Council of Churches in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal, took place in South Africa at the end of August 2014.

People from Cameroon, Lesotho, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe took part. Participants included Kapya Kaoma, Gerald West and Sylvia Tamale.

They declared that they were “highly concerned with the well-being of our beloved continent and with the demonisation and criminalisation of sexual minorities on the continent,” including “misuse of religion to further marginalise and exclude” them.

Religious institutions, especially churches, were urged to “care for the least amongst us as Christ has done”, “create safe spaces for encounter with the sexual diversity within the body of Christ” and “openly condemn violence against sexual minorities”.

African scholars and academic institutions were asked to produce credible scholarship and promote public understanding, and governments to protect all citizens, get rid of colonial sodomy laws and oppose further criminalisation.

The Declaration also called on Africans on the continent and in the diaspora to respect human rights for all and to oppose violence against sexual minorities.

The international community and partners should “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.”

* The Declaration can be found on http://www.lgbtglobalfaith.org/because-you-are-therefore-i-am/.

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