1. Percy Ngwerume percy@safaids.net
Engaging faith structures to address the challenge of stigma and discrimination: Can we create leadership within religious fraternities at community level?
Percy Ngwerume

2. Goal
“Increased respect for and enjoyment of the human rights of LGBT persons through; addressing key drivers of homophobia among leaders in Africa, support leaders and the media to speak out on abuse and challenge the wave to criminalize LGBT by 2014.”

3. Yes, we can create leadership within religious fraternities at community level?

4. Evidence from the dialogues….

9. Why should we work with religious leaders?
Religious positions / beliefs contributes towards shaping stigma and discrimination
Religious leaders want information so as to understand LGBTI:
“As a parent I need to know and understand what is happening inside these people to end up being gay..”
“My grand child is a boy, but his movement is lady-like and his cousins indicated that he is gay… I told them, we do not have such in Maluleka`s* family... I was very scared to talk to anybody about this issue in the church fearing their reaction”

10. Lessons learnt
Transformation is a gradual process and will result from continuous discussion and dialogue – “Let us pray for these people so that they change….”
Leaders are important opinion influencers and can shape community views and perception
Communities need information about LGBTI but do not know were to get factual information

11. Challenges
A hostile environment exists and talking about homophobia and other forms of stigma and discrimination may have consequences for the leaders

12. Ideas for the future
More dialogues are required within religious institutions to reach a wider audience
Engage more religious leaders including high level leaders to speak out against stigma and discrimination