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Churches urged to protect gay members

Home National Churches urged to protect gay members

Windhoek

Tulinam, an organisation representing sexual minorities, says Namibian churches have gay members who are scared to come out of the closet because of possible victimisation.

Religious groups must therefore engage in discussions of religion and sexuality, Tulinam urged.

The organisation’s director Madelene Isaacks said over the past four years they had contacted about 130 clergymen and women telephonically, via e-mail or in person, but only a handful agreed to meet them.“Tulinam puts the spotlight on an area that we believe does not receive sufficient attention and exploration, namely the need for dialogue in churches and church communities on the issue of sexual diversity,” she said.“We believe that this discussion is much needed and that Tulinam can make a significant contribution to help Namibian society to embrace diversity in all its forms, thereby eradicating social injustices and contributing to a fully democratic society.”

“So, it has not been so easy to get clergy to engage with us on this topic. Sometimes clergy are open enough to listen, they might even accept invitations and then simply do not attend. We had very little engagement with church communities themselves, other than Lutheran youth groups,” she added.

Isaacks said the main goal of the organisation is to strengthen and support lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and intersex (LGBTI) individuals, allies and sympathetic clergy to understand and confront religious fundamentalism.

Isaacks stated the organisation also aims to create safe spaces for dialogue to empower sexual minorities, faith communities and allies to engage with each other and recognise and claim the human rights of us all.

Isaacks said many times they have been told by clergy that they are not aware of any gay members in their church and therefore do not see it as a pressing issue that needs attention. “But being unaware does not mean there are no gay members in their churches. There are just in the faith-closet, scared that they will be victimised or subjected so some form of exorcism should their sexuality be known”.

She added that few clergy believe it is an opportunity to convert and reform homosexuals.

“Whatever the reasons, the overall is that we need to keep the conversation going and we need to talk more”. Isaacks said it is a fact that in most cases once clergy are aware that a member is homosexual, it is required of that person to denounce his or her sexuality in some way of another.

“We need to connect with homosexual Christians in their respective churches because their visibility will counteract much of the stereotypical thinking around spirituality and sexuality,” Isaacks said.