Religious leaders from around the world plan to discuss Safeguarding Principles for the LGBTQ+ community.
On 21 and 22 March, over 150 religious public figures are set to gather at London’s Foreign Office to participate in the 2022 Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives Conference (GIC+).
The Chief Rabbi of Poland, former President of Ireland, Dr Mary McAleese, and four Anglican Primates are just some of the event’s attendees.
During this year’s gathering, the delegates will analyse specially commissioned research regarding the harmful practices of conversion therapy on LGBTQ+ youth.
The in-depth analysis, which an Advisory Board of research professionals oversaw, looks explicitly at queer communities within Hungary and the Caribbean.
In the two reports, researchers reveal that LGBTQ+ youth who have undergone conversion therapy have higher rates of suicidal attempts, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm than those who have not experienced any form of the horrific practice.
Zoe Playdon, Emeritus Professor of Medical Humanities at University of London and Chair of the Research Advisory Board, opened up about the alarming research in a statement.
“The research demonstrates how defenceless young LGBT+ people turned for support to those they trusted, in places that should have been safe and found only prejudice and harm,” she said.
Privileged to be Director of @GlobalComLGBT that is convening this meeting tomorrow https://t.co/33tdcWCf4O
— Jayne Ozanne 🇺🇦 (@JayneOzanne) March 20, 2022
“Their abusers are encouraged by a toxic culture whose constant negative message is that being LGBT is unacceptable, prompting vulnerable people to turn to these degrading practices or worse, seek death.
“That is why we need the international community, and religious leaders in particular, to speak out.”
Jayne Ozanne, the Director of the GIC+, echoed similar sentiments and praised the religious figures set to attend the event.
“It is so encouraging to see the importance that so many senior faith leaders from around the world have placed on this event, with many clearing their diaries and coming to London to show their solidarity and support for this critical Safeguarding project,” she said.
The upcoming GIC+ conference comes a couple of years after the organisation launched the Dignity of All Declaration.
In the declaration, which over 1000 religious leaders signed, the GIC+ called for an end of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and conversion therapy.
“We affirm that all human beings of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions are a precious part of creation and are part of the natural order,” the document said.
The 2022 Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives Conference will be held over two days, with the Safeguarding Principles to be revealed on 22 March.
Read more about the event below.
2/4 Our @GlobalComLGBT conference starts with how we must protect #LGBTQ lives legally with a full #banconversiontherspy
Speakers are Senior Legal Adviser to @ahmedshaheed (UN Independent Expert on FoRB), @LawandBeliefs on #SpiritualAbuse & @IliasTrispiotis on #InformedConsent. pic.twitter.com/CvOFn80HEr
— Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT Lives (@GlobalComLGBT) March 20, 2022
4/4 Finally we will agree 6 Safeguarding Principles based on UK Care Act to Protect #LGBT Lives & commend them to our religious organisations around the world for adoption
They’ll be announced on Mar 22nd at 630pm after Act of Commitment led by @revdisonhttps://t.co/YBB6mFsvNH
— Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT Lives (@GlobalComLGBT) March 20, 2022
The post Over 150 religious leaders set to meet regarding new safeguarding principles for the LGBTQ+ community appeared first on GAY TIMES.
0 Comments