Michael Nazir-Ali urges gay people to “repent and be changed”
He has spoken and voted many times against lesbian and gay human rights
By Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner
London – 5 July 2009
“As an Asian man, Bishop Michael knows the pain of racial prejudice. I am shocked that he is inflicting similar prejudice on gay people,” said human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell.
He was commenting on today’s call for homosexuals to “repent and be changed”, made by the Anglican Bishop of Rochester, England, Michael Nazir-Ali, as reported today on the front page of the UK’s Sunday Telegraph newspaper:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5744559/Change-and-repent-bishop-tells-gays.html
“Homophobia is a social and moral evil, just like racism. Bigotry, even in the guise of religion, has no place in a humane, caring society,” added Mr Tatchell
“I call on the Bishop to repent his homophobia. Prejudice and discrimination are contrary to Christ’s gospel of love and compassion.
“This is merely the latest of many homophobic outbursts by the Bishop. He is a long-time vociferous opponent of gay equality and a strident supporter of legal discrimination against homosexuals.
“He has repeatedly spoken and voted against gay human rights in the House of Lords, defending homophobic laws like the unequal age of consent, criticising civil partnership legislation and opposing IVF fertility treatment for lesbian couples.
“In 2002, Bishop Michael failed to be appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury and as global head of the Anglican and Episcopal churches. He is now vying to lead the breakaway group of right-wing evangelicals who oppose gay priests and gay human rights. Their new faction is founded on homophobia. Anti-gay prejudice is the central tenet, the one fundamental belief, which unites them,” said Mr Tatchell.