Catholic teaching is clear that upholding human dignity requires an end to discrimination and stigmatization. Catholics worldwide must join efforts to end these harsh criminalization laws and the attitudes which foster them.
The #PopeSpeakOut campaign asks Pope Francis to use responsibly his moral authority and public platform by condemning laws that criminalize being LGBT. Add your voice to our appeal as Catholics by contacting the pope!
Bondings 2.0 – A blog with the latest Catholic LGBT news, opinion, and spirituality. See the categories “Criminalization” and “#PopeSpeakOut”
Church Teaching on Non-Discrimination and Civil Rights
Examples of Catholic Opposition to Anti-LGBT Criminalization
God Loves Uganda – A 2014 documentary about the attempts by some Christians in United States to impose anti-LGBT attitudes and laws on African nations.
Intimate Convictions Conference – Talk about Catholic responses to criminalization by Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, at the 2017 Intimate Convictions conference
76 Crimes – A blog focusing on anti-LGBT laws that exist in 76+ countries and the effort to repeal them. Includes a full listing of such countries and is available in French.
Global Network of Rainbow Catholics – Coalition of LGBTQI people and organizations working for inclusion, dignity, and equality in the Roman Catholic Church and in society.
LGBT Asylum Support Task Force – Community-based volunteer organization which supports LGBT people seeking asylum or refuge in the United States, and seeks policy change towards this end.
LGBT Freedom and Asylum Network – Group helping LGBT persons who seek safety in the United States.
Sexual Minorities Uganda – Led by Frank Mugisha (see below), this is an umbrella organization advocating for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Ugandans.
Dr. Frank Mugisha, executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda
Dr. Mugisha advocates for human rights in Uganda, and for his efforts has received many awards including in 2011 the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award and the Rafto Prize. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
At New Ways Ministry’s National Symposium in 2017, Mugisha told attendees: “I encourage you to think of any way you can support an LGBT person. Take it personally. Stand up. Speak out.”
