outspoken about homophobia earns tutu honour

By: Lesego Masike (BTM Reporter)

RELIGION – March 5, 2008: The most vociferous and gay friendly Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be honoured with an Outspoken award on 8 April this year by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC).

The Emeritus Archbishop and the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner is honoured for the unprecedented impact of his leadership as a human rights advocate.

According to IGLHRC, this award recognises the leadership of global allies to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community whose outspokenness has contributed substantially to advocating for the rights and understanding of LGBTI people.

In Africa, political and religious leaders have been vocal on LGBTI people, with President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe saying gay and lesbian people are ‘sexual perverts’ and ‘worse than dogs and pigs’.

LGBTI people throughout Africa live in constant fear of their lives, scared of being tortured, ostracized or sentenced to prison due to their sexual orientation.

However, Tutu has persistently challenged both racism and homophobia on the Continent and the world at large.

In 2004, Tutu told the Times online that one of his wishes is “for the world to end the persecution of people because of their sexual orientation, which is every bit as unjust as crime against humanity, apartheid.”

“I could not have fought against the discrimination of Apartheid and not also fight against the discrimination that homosexuals endure, even in our churches and faith groups”, he explained.

According to Sarah Tobias, communications and research manager at IGLHRC, Archbishop Tutu could change people’s perspectives on homosexuality.

“As a religious leader, Archbishop Tutu’s outspoken role on LGBTI issues could definitely motivate other religious leaders to support LGBTI communities and he has criticised the Anglican Church leadership for its homophobia.”

The first Outspoken award was given in 2005 to Honorable Mary Robinson, whose leadership as President of Ireland and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights tangibly moved the concerns of LGBTI people forward.