Letter in response to the 'Anti-Christian law' letter from prominent leaders of black majority churches in the Daily Telegraph.
Sir –
I can assure every one of the pastors that the Government has good reason to be considering the prohibition of discrimination in the provision of goods and services on the grounds of sexual orientation. We believe there should be no exceptions. Indeed, we would hope people of all faiths would welcome the fact that everyone should be considered equal in the eye of the law, regardless of colour ,gender, or sexual orientation.
I invite every one of the pastors to spend at least one day working at the Lesbian and Gay Christian movement if they are in any doubt about the scale and unpleasant nature of homophobia which afflicts the churches of Britain. No day passes without people who trust us bringing to our attention incidents of harassment, victimisation, intimidation and discrimination which no faith and no government should seek to condone or excuse. Reforming the law should help create a greater degree of Christian – and humane – behaviour among those who fall far short of it.
The reason the law needs to be changed is because that is the only way lesbian and gay people can be protected from discrimination by their intolerant co-religionists.
Rev Richard Kirker
Chief Executive, Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement
London E2
