The Declaration

Join us in calling for an end to violence and criminalisation against LGBT+ people and for a global ban on conversion therapy.
We recognise that certain religious teachings have, throughout the ages, been misused to cause deep pain and offense to those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex.
This must change.
That is why we are inviting you to join hundreds of religious leaders from across the global faith communities to publicly or privately sign the declaration in order to affirm and celebrate the dignity of all, independent of a person’s sexuality, gender expression and gender identity.
Translations of the declaration
[click to choose language]
Launch signatories
Over 400+ religious leaders from over 35 countries signed the declaration as launch signatories, including:
Title & Name | Position |
---|---|
Archbishop Desmond M Tutu | Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town |
Most Revd Linda Nicholls | Archbishop of Canada |
Most Revd Anne Germond | Archbishop of Algoma and Moosonee, in the Anglican Church of Canada |
Most Revd Melissa Skleton | Archbishop of the Diocese of New Westminster |
Most Revd Mark Strange | Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church |
Most Revd Dr Antju Jackele | Archbishop of Sweden |
Most Revd Rhee M. Timbang | Obispo Maximo of the Philippines |
Most Revd John Campbell Paterson | Archbishop Emeritus, New Zeland |
Most Revd Olav Tveit | Primus of the Church of Noway |
Most Revd John D. E. Davies | Archbishop of Wales |
Rabbi David Rosen | Former Chief Rabbi of Ireland |
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein | Chair, UK Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors |
Rabbi Mel Gottlieb | President of the Academy for Jewish Religion |
Rabbi Danny Rich | Vice President, Liberal Judaism, UK |
Rabbi Dr Shmuly Yaklowitz | President of Uri L'Tzedek: Orthodox Social Justice |
Revd Richard Teal | President of the UK Methodist Conference 2020/21 |
Mrs Jill Baker | Chair of the UK Methodist Council |
Revd Dr Yvette Flunder | Presiding Bishop of the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, USA |
Father Timothy Radcliffe OP | Former Master General of the Order of Preachers (The Dominicans) |
Prof Tina Beattie | Professor Emerita of Catholic Studies |
Red Dr John C. Dorhauer | President of the United Church of Christ, USA |
Elder Nancy G. Maxwell | Member of the MCC Council of Elders, USA |
Revd Michael-Ray Matthews | President of the Alliance of Baptists, USA |
Dr Imam Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed | Rector of the CALEM Institute |
Rajnish Kashyap MCICM | General Secretary of Hindu Council UK |
Gurumukh Khalsa | Minister of Sikh Dharma International |
Revd Shinchi Linda Galijan | President of San Francisco Zen Centre |
The initial list of signatories includes 10 Archbishops, 63 Bishops and 18 Deans, 66 rabbis and various religious leaders from the Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu religions. A full list of the original signatories can be viewed here.
Post launch signatOrIes
As of 1800 (GMT) on December 21st 2020 we have had 1130 public signatories since launch, plus 80 people who have chosen to sign privately. These are in addition to the 400+ Launch Signatories, who signed the Declaration ahead of its launch on December 16th 2020.
To date we have 15 Archbishops, 78 bishops and 100 rabbis as well as many other senior representatives of Christian denominations and other religions.
Signatories come from over 55 countries, including:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tortola, Trinidad & Tobago, USA, Wales, Zimbabwe
Declaring the Sanctity of life and the dignity of all
- We come together as senior religious leaders, academics, and lay leaders from around the world to affirm the sanctity of life and dignity of all.
- We affirm that all human beings of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions are a precious part of creation and are part of the natural order.
- We affirm that we are all equal under God, whom many call the Divine, and so we are all equal to one another.
- We, therefore, call for all to be treated equally under the law.
- We recognize with sadness that certain religious teachings have often, throughout the ages, caused and continue to cause deep pain and offense to those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex.
- We acknowledge, with profound regret, that some of our teachings have created, and continue to create, oppressive systems that fuel intolerance, perpetuate injustice and result in violence. This has led, and continues to lead, to the rejection and alienation of many by their families, their religious groups and cultural communities.
- We ask for forgiveness from those whose lives have been damaged and destroyed on the pretext of religious teaching.
- We believe that love and compassion should be the basis of faith and that hatred can have no place in religion.
- We call on all nations to put an end to criminalisation on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, for violence against LGBT+ people to be condemned and for justice to be done on their behalf.
- We call for all attempts to change, suppress or erase a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression – commonly known as “conversion therapy” – to end, and for these harmful practices to be banned.
- Finally, we call for an end to the perpetuation of prejudice and stigma and commit to work together to celebrate inclusivity and the extraordinary gift of our diversity
Sign Up Privately
[Your name will not be published on our website]
Not everyone can afford to have their signature be made known, but we would appreciate your support all the same. If you would like to sign the letter but without your signature being made known to the public, please complete the following form which will be kept confidential.
Declaring the Sanctity of life and the dignity of all
- We come together as senior religious leaders, academics, and lay leaders from around the world to affirm the sanctity of life and dignity of all.
- We affirm that all human beings of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions are a precious part of creation and are part of the natural order.
- We affirm that we are all equal under God, whom many call the Divine, and so we are all equal to one another.
- We, therefore, call for all to be treated equally under the law.
- We recognize with sadness that certain religious teachings have often, throughout the ages, caused and continue to cause deep pain and offense to those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex.
- We acknowledge, with profound regret, that some of our teachings have created, and continue to create, oppressive systems that fuel intolerance, perpetuate injustice and result in violence. This has led, and continues to lead, to the rejection and alienation of many by their families, their religious groups and cultural communities.
- We ask for forgiveness from those whose lives have been damaged and destroyed on the pretext of religious teaching.
- We believe that love and compassion should be the basis of faith and that hatred can have no place in religion.
- We call on all nations to put an end to criminalisation on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, for violence against LGBT+ people to be condemned and for justice to be done on their behalf.
- We call for all attempts to change, suppress or erase a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression – commonly known as “conversion therapy” – to end, and for these harmful practices to be banned.
- Finally, we call for an end to the perpetuation of prejudice and stigma and commit to work together to celebrate inclusivity and the extraordinary gift of our diversity