Archbishop
Thabo Makgoba of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, Cape Town said today
Tuesday in an interview with Human Rights Watch – “Violence and discrimination
on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity should stop and people
should respect each other I am called to love all God's children and if I move
from that context, I cannot allow people to be discriminated and subjected to
violence just because of the basis of their sexual orientation.
He said Respect the
gift of difference. When you violate somebody on the basis of difference you
are not only violating them but demeaning yourself. It's a moral responsibility
to stop the violence against people who are different. People should not fear
because they were given the task of “helping humanity”.
Makgoba who was speaking on Human Rights said
God had not called on people to judge but to love and accept. Love cuts across
culture. Our faith and our sacred text allow us to use our God-given courage to
be fearless in saying God loves each one of us in spite of our sexual identification
or orientation.
He further
said that God has called on us to radiate his love and grace in the world so God's
people should not suffer because of who they were and how God created them.
Lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) rights director at Human Rights
Watch Graeme Reid said Makgoba's statement should call national, religious and
cultural leaders across Africa to support and fight for the rights of LGBTI
people.
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