The UK Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) is not in the least surprised at the strong opposition from Christian sources to both the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras being held on 4 March 2000 and the GLBT Worldpride 2000 being held in Rome from 1 to 8 July. Both the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches have made their condemnation of gay sexual relationships abundantly clear on many occasions – the UK Anglican notably at its General Synod in 1988 and the Lambeth Conference held in the UK in 1998, the Roman Catholic in innumerable documents including its Catechism which refers to such relationships as “intrinsically disordered”. Both Churches have recently voiced their strong opposition to lowering the gay age of consent and repeal of Section 28 in the UK.
GALHA Secretary George Broadhead said “Our organisation has always seen religion as the main source of prejudice and hostility towards lesbian and gay people and their rights. It’s high time all other lesbian and gay organisations and the lesbian and gay press worldwide recognised this fact.”
“Mardi Gras president Mr David McLachlan has made a totally inadequate response to the Churches’ hostility”, said Mr Broadhead. “McLachlan is quoted as saying: ‘I was raised as a Catholic, and it’s sad to see how out of touch these church leaders are in helping people deal with the development of one’s sexuality.’ It’s nothing to do with being out of touch”, said Mr Broadhead, “but all to do with the biblical condemnations of gay sex which these Churches all cite. On the other hand, the Mayor of Rome, Signor Rutelli, and the Italian Foreign Minister, Signor Dini, are to be praised for their robust rebuttal of the Vatican’s hostility.”