Exclusion of LGBTQI community by church ‘deeply painful’
A Durban activist says the continued exclusion of the LGBTQI community by some religious leaders is deeply painful.
Aluta Humbane has been commenting after the Anglican Church of Southern Africa rejected a proposal to bless same-sex couples in welcoming parishes.
The church voted against the proposal during a recent synod meeting, saying it was important to maintain unity and uphold traditional teachings.
Humbane, who's with the Durban Lesbian & Gay Community and Health Centre, says she stopped going to church because she felt unwelcome.
"The reality is there are a lot of LGBTI people, and we see them as team leaders, and the negative stigma attached to being LGBTI could be coming from a place where people are homophonic and ignorant."
Humbane feels that people in same-sex relationships shouldn't rely on others for validation.
"As an LGBTI person, how do we create a space that is safe for us without also infringing on someone’s rights."
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