The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

Vanessa, a member of the District's JDS group, has written the below reflection and prayer for the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

About the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) was created in 2004 to draw the attention of decision makers, the media, the public, corporations, opinion leaders, local authorities, etc. to the alarming situation faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex persons (LGBTQI), and all of those with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions and sex characteristics.

The date of 17 May was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization's decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. Whilst the Day is currently celebrated in more than 130 countries, with most United Nations agencies also marking the Day with specific events,* more than a third of countries in the world criminalise same-sex relationships and violence, discrimination and exclusion against LGBTQI persons are consistently high, and cases are often underreported.** An overview of the oppression of LGBTQI communities can be found here: https://human-rights-channel.coe.int/idahotb-en.html.

The theme for this year's IDAHOBIT is Together always: United in diversity. An equal world depends on recognising and respecting the diversity of people and communities and guaranteeing the rights and choices for all, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Being 'different' should not be the basis of marginalisation, stigma, exclusion and persecution.

Our God is a God of love, acceptance, justice and healing. He loves every human being and commands each of us to love our neighbour as ourselves (Mark 12:31; Leviticus 19:18).Sadly, there have been, and still are, instances of exclusion and discrimination against LGBTI individuals in churches, which are either enabled by the churches or are complicit by their silence.

On this IDAHOBIT, let us follow Jesus Christ to love and serve the marginalised, the vulnerable, the disenfranchised and the disinherited by showing our love and support for the LGBTQI communities. Let us build bonding among all individuals and communities, regardless of who or what they are.

Prayer

Our God of love, acceptance, justice and healing,

On this International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, we come before You with a passion for justice and equality and understanding and love.

We pray for those suffering from exclusion, prejudice or discrimination. May You heal their hearts and grant them strength in knowing You love them individually and they are never alone.

We pray for Your grace to guide us in embracing every individual as a precious creature of Yours, regardless of who and what they are and irrespective of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

We ask for Your wisdom to recognise the dignity and worth of each individual and to act justly.

Lord, grant us the courage to stand for justice and to speak out against hatred, exclusion and persecution. May our actions and words reflect Your love and teachings.

You call us to love one another as You have loved us. Lord, guide us to be instruments of Your peace and to walk alongside with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex communities and others who suffer from exclusion and marginalisation.

Help us to work tirelessly to create a world of equality where the diversity and differences of people are embraced and every person can live with dignity, free from fear and harm of persecution of being different.

In Your holy name, we pray,

Amen.