 San Juan, Puerto Rico. Today, May 17, is the International Day Against Homophobia. The International Day Against Homophobia is Inspired by the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights that declares that all human beings are born free and equality in dignity and rights.
May 17 was chosen as the day of this event because homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 17, 1990. This action was taken by the American Psychiatric Association in our country in 1973.
I am in Puerto Rico with a two-fold purpose: to address the rise of hate crimes against LGBT persons here with the National Religious Leadership Roundtable and to visit Presbyterian congregations. I worshipped yesterday at Tercera Presbyterian Church in Aguadilla. Rev. Jose Luis Torres Milan serves as pastor of this vibrant and growing congregation. It is absolutely clear that Rev. Torres Milan cares about all people and families within his congregation and community. No one is excluded, no one is left out of God's love and the care of this pastor for all of the people God entrusts into his care.The International Day Against Homophobia, or IDAHO, recognizes that many of the world's citizens are not able to enjoy the privilege of living in an egalitarian society. In over 70 countries being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, or loving a member of the same sex is against the law and in seven countries the penalty is imprisonment or death.
We are more aware of such threats and the lack of safety for LGBT people because of the anti-gay, "kill the gays" bill proposed in Uganda. As people of faith, Christians and Presbyterians, we should also be aware that homophobia and heterosexism was imported, taught and imposed upon indigenous cultures by fundamentalist Christians. We bear responsibility for the threat upon our LGBT sisters and brothers worldwide because of this legacy. Therefore, all of us can do something about this by participating in the International Day Against Homophobia and by supporting pro-LGBT educational and advocacy initiatives in our country and around the world.
While this annual campaign began as the International Day Against Homophobia, many have expanded this to include transgender persons and their families. So, this is being named the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia in a growing number of countries.
To learn more about IDAHO, or the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, please do check out these resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_Against_Homophobia_and_Transphobia
http://www.homophobiaday.org/
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/fdad/cms/stopdiscrimination/news_events/news/news002.html?langid=en
More Light Presbyterians is proud to be a supportive organization of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Since 1974, we have been working to end discrimination against LGBT people and their families in both church and society. We are keenly aware that there are Presbyterian congregations, national churches and seminaries in over 100 countries. Therefore, while our work focuses primarily upon the achievement of spiritual, ordination and marriage equality with the Presbyterian Church (USA), we also earnestly advocate for the end to discrimination against LGBT persons around the world.
On this day, May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia, we want to remind our Church and the world that all persons are children of God, created in the image of God and unconditionally loved by God. We are working to remove barriers to all persons knowing they are children of God and to become one human family.
with hope and grace,
Michael |
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