GIN-SSOGIE had the pleasure of being invited to speak on Outright International’s webinar “Connecting Faith and Advocacy” last week, on May 28th. The focus was that because discrimination against LGBTI individuals is often justified on religious grounds, many consider religion an obstacle to achieving equality, particularly in Africa where the importance and influence of religion has widely been increasing. However, how do people at the intersections of faith-communities and sexual/gender minority groups navigate the complex interplay between the various factors of their identity?

In Connecting Faith and Advocacy, OutRight’s 2020 UN Religious Fellows, along with GIN member, Hugo Cordova Quero, discussed their work combatting religion-based homophobia, biphobia, interphobia, and transphobia in the African Region. GIN-SSOGIE’s Board member representing Sub-Saharan Africa and member of the GIN Speakers Bureau, Ishmael Bahati, also had the pleasure to participate and make several interventions.The conversation was extremely fruitful, and enabled to exchange various perspectives from the African continent as well as from Latin America, and more globally, from Outright’s and GIN’s advocacy work being done at the UN-level.

This webinar was part of a series organised by Outright International in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic – more information can be found in the following link: https://outrightinternational.org/content/outright-covid-webinar-series

Explore our programmes

The Family & Traditional Values Seminar series

The Religious Dialogue Partners’ process

The Speakers’ Bureau

If you’re interested in working on religious dialogue in your
region or country get in touch with us

Don't just take our word for it

I often say that one of the most cruel narratives against LGTBI+ persons, which leads to greatly damaging violence and discrimination, is that they don't have th e capacity for spirituality, or a call for it. The fundamental importance of the work of GIN-SSOGIE is that it creates and nurtures evidence to counter that narrative, and to reclaim spirituality and religion as spaces where LGBTI+ persons have choice to belong. Within the United Nations, this work is currently vital, as there are strategies at play that claim that there are fundamental contradictions between the right to freedom of religion and belief and the right to live free from violence and discrimination based on SOGI. The strategy relies on a "zero-sum" mentality in which the furtherance of one set of rights necessitates the regression of the others. This has been disproven by analysis and evidence amassed and presented persuasively by civil society, very importantly among them, GIN-SSOGIE.

Victor Madrigal-BorlozCEUN Independent Expert on SOGIO

It really is the visibilisation of the discussions around faith and SOGIESC issues. I mean, they’ve made it possible to have these conversations, they’ve made it possible for states to have these conversations, for civil society to come together and think about faith based inclusion. You know, they’ve encouraged other religious actors that are not SOGIESC specific, like let’s say the act Church of Sweden or the ACT Alliance, to think more strategically about inclusion of LGBTI issues. And I think those are really profound and important impacts.

Anonymous feedback from the review of the advocacy programme

The [Family and Traditional Values] report and the declarations from the seminars are important testimonies to the existence of a rich diversity of family experiences today and historically and also that diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions are present in cultures around the world. To respect and protect all human being’s individual rights means that no religious nor traditional or national values can be used as a basis to violate the human rights of any individual. …

governments, as we are, together with civil society organizations can use this report to promote better understanding and respect for the rights of sexual and gender minorities including to counter the politicization of traditional family values.

Ms Harriet Berg Director for Human Rights, Democracy and Gender Equality at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

"When spider webs unite they can tie down a lion”

This African proverb speaks to the power of unity among those who share a common vision. Each one on their own can spin a web through their efforts but there is much more strength and power in unity. The Global Interfaith Network is a justice seeking community of all persons of different sexualities in a common struggle for the dignity and equality of all persons irrespective of their sexualities. Issues of sexualities are highly contested and contentious in society and particularly among faith groups. The resistance to dignity and equality of people of different sexualities is no longer at the level of opinion or faith statement but has been taken to international, continental and country levels. Thus the struggle for equality and dignity of all persons that is at the heart of all faiths is being taken up by GIN in pursuit of justice that is inclusive of diversity and all persons. The work of GIN is ultimately to give expression to the highest ideals both all faiths and human rights for all and to create a better world where all are free to be who they are without discrimination or violence.

Dr Nontando HadebeSide by Side Gender Justice

About GIN

GIN is an international membership-led non-profit organisation that promotes safety and inclusion for all people of faith and spirituality, especially for people that often are discriminated against on the basis of their sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression. GIN advocates for safe spaces, policy inclusion and for the support and acceptance of all sexual and gender minorities for whom their faith is an important life-giving source.

Programmes

Policies

Contact Us

www.gin-ssogie.org / info@gin-ssogie.org

Corner Rabie Rd and Fourth Ave North, Fontainebleau, Randburg, South Africa, 2032

Tel: +27115687172