Archbishop Tutu: Gay people loved by God, SA must fully accept and embrace all

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu yesterday said he does not support a homophobic God. “I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I’d say sorry. I mean, I’d much rather go to that other place,” he told reporters in Cape Town. 

“We have to build a society that is accepting and it is not a free society until every single person knows they are acknowledged and accepted for who they are.” 

He was speaking at the launch of the United Nations “Free & Equal” global campaign for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality in Cape Town. The campaign aims to raise awareness about homophobic violence and discrimination.

Tutu said many people felt they could not be comfortable in their skin because of potential ridicule. He was aware that many religious leaders promoted the idea that it was a sin to be anything but heterosexual. “There is deep anguish for many of us that they can imagine that God would create someone and put them there and say ‘I hate you. I hate you for who I made you to be’.” 

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said the campaign’s success would be measured by how many countries chose to decriminalise LGBT preferences and the measures they put in place to offer protection to individuals.