Today I pray for people in Africa and throughout the world who long for freedom because they are lesbian,
gay, bisexual or transgender. It grieves me to be retiring at this
crucial moment in history, so I write to you in this open letter, to
invite you to pick up the work that remains to be done. More than 70
countries still imprison or execute
gay and transgender people, and bullying and murders are all too common. This must change.
Each of you is called to respond to God's urgency for love and life. So whether you are in
South Africa, the
United States
or anywhere else, humanity needs to accept its own diversity as a gift
from our Creator. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are part
of our family of God.
I have always striven for a life of love
in action. Many told me to stop. They called me a communist or they
told me that I might be killed. Now, I have lived long, and one choice
that comes with age is how to deal with our own mortality. Should we be
more careful or be more bold? Should we rest on our laurels or respond
to the urgency of justice?
Boldly, I urge all faith leaders and
politicians to stop persecuting people based on their sexual orientation
or gender identity. Every day people live in fear because of who they
love. We are talking about our family members
, our flesh and blood, our humanity. LGBT people are in our villages, towns, cities, countries -- and our whole world.
In
South African churches we have sung, "Oh freedom! Freedom is coming, oh
yes, I know." We sang this chorus at the lowest points of our journey
toward freedom against the racist and colonialist system of apartheid,
and we still sing it to this day. Freedom is coming -- and those of us
who have freedom must speak out for those whose freedom is under attack.
We can and must make a difference.
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