The KwaZulu Declaration

Karen Barr, GLAD Alliance Council Moderator, shares these words about the GLAD Preassembly Event held at the Columbus General Assembly. Close to her heart has been the hurt caused by the homophobia that American churches have been exporting to Africa. Here are some ways you can help.

At the GLAD Preassembly Event we had the opportunity to examine global LGBT crisis and to look at the faith response to lgbt persons and their families within the United States and abroad. Michael Adee, the main presenter at the Event, gave us a long hard look at the colonial legacy of homophobia in Africa and the current export of homophobia from the USA. At the Preassembly Event we also looked at how marriage equality has changed the landscape in the US and the realities of lgbt refugees and asylum seekers in the US. All justice issues of great import to so many lives.

At the event Michael mentioned a conference in Africa that occurred last year which he had organized. A major result of this conference was the KwaZulu Natal Declaration. In the KwaZulu Natal Declaration there are specific requests for how persons and groups inside and outside of Africa can best respond to this crisis. This page from the Global Faith and Justice Project describes the conference and the declaration. I commend to you.