Francis opposed same-sex marriage & trans rights
London, UK – 21st April 2025
Peter Tatchell has campaigned against Catholic homophobia for 58 years and staged 10 major protests against the discrimination advocated by Popes, Cardinals & Archbishops over the last five-plus decades – and he made the acclaimed documentary film, The Trouble With The Pope (Channel 4 TV, 2010).
“I extend my condolences to Catholics worldwide on the passing of Pope Francis. While we often disagreed on issues of LGBT+ rights, I acknowledge his more compassionate tone towards sexual minorities. His recent moves to allow blessings for same-sex couples, albeit with limitations, signalled a small but significant shift in Church doctrine.
“However, for millions of LGBT+ people globally, the Catholic Church remains a force for discrimination and suffering. Under his leadership, the Vatican continued to oppose same-sex marriage and trans rights. Catholic bishops lobbied against the decriminalisation of homosexuality in many parts of the world. The Vatican still upholds the homophobic edicts of the Catechism, which denounces the sexual expression of same-sex love as a ‘grave depravity’ and ‘intrinsically disordered.’
“Francis’s legacy is, therefore, a mixed one—offering some progress but leaving deep-rooted inequalities largely intact.
“The struggle for LGBT+ equality against a homophobic Church must continue. We urge the next Pope to go further—to end the Church’s support for discrimination, both within the faith and in the wider society,” said Mr Tatchell.