OTN patrons sign global interfaith declaration on 'the sanctity of life and the dignity of all'
Religious Leaders from across the world's main faiths come together to make a declaration that affirms and celebrates LGBT people (3 minutes).
MORE THAN 370 religious leaders from around the world are calling for a ban on conversion therapy - the attempt to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
A declaration calling for the ban was launched today at a conference sponsored by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Watch the livestream of the event here.
The signatories to the declaration represent all the world's major faiths and many are known advocates for LGBTQIA+ people, including three patrons of the Open Table Network.
The statement, titled ‘Declaring the sanctity of life and of the dignity of all’, also calls for an end to violence and criminalisation against LGBT+ people. It is the initiative of the new Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives, overseen by our partners the Ozanne Foundation. They said today:
We recognise that certain religious teachings have, throughout the ages, been misused to cause deep pain and offense to those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex. This must change. That is why we have launched the Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives, which aims to provide a strong and authoritative voice from religious leaders across the global faith community who wish to affirm and celebrate the dignity of all, independent of a person's sexuality, gender expression and gender identity.
Rt Revd Paul Bayes, Bishop of Liverpool, Co-Chair of the Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives & OTN Patron
Among the founding members of the Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives are Open Table Network Patrons Rt Revd Paul Bayes, Bishop of Liverpool, in the Church of England, and Rt Revd Cherry Vann, Bishop of Monmouth from the Church in Wales. We are grateful for their public advocacy and support.
More than 370 religious leaders from over 35 countries have already signed the declaration including Dr Mary Macaleese, former President of the Republic of Ireland and Archbishop Desmond Tutu from South Africa. The initial list of signatories includes nine Archbishops, 51 Bishops and 16 Deans from across the Anglican Communion, 65 rabbis and various religious leaders from the Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu religions.
They come from over 35 countries, including:
Rt Revd Cherry Vann, Bishop of Monmouth & OTN Patron
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, England, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Wales
The declaration is available in 16 languages.
Supporters have today been invited to sign the declaration, either publicly or privately. Among those who have publicly signed today are: Open Table Network Patron Revd Dr John P. Bradbury, General Secretary of the United Reformed Church, and Kieran Bohan, Open Table Network Co-ordinator.
