Gay African Publication Lists Adventist Church Among Denominations with Homophobic Ideas

January 31, 2017:    The Adventist Church has been listed as one of several homophobic denominations in an article about faith-based gay rights advocates in Uganda.

Kuchu Times, an African gay issues site with a self-described mission to “provide a voice for Africa’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community,” stated that:

“Homophobic ideas have united different religious sects, political parties, and the general public. Muslim, Anglican, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Seventh Day Adventists [sic], Pentecostal and leaders of traditional religions have all united to fight LGBTI rights and preached sermons that label homosexuality as an evil practice among unholy people who need spiritual and sacred cleansing.”

The article, published Dec 12, 2016, points out that religious leaders have attempted to frame the LGBTI community as “unAfrican, ungodly and unnatural.”

The piece goes on to profile “leaders and allies of the Ugandan LGBTI community who have kept their faith when religious leaders disowned them.”

Anti-gay attitudes are not limited to Adventists in Uganda. The views appear to be widely held by denominational leadership internationally.

Independent of other faith communities, the Adventist Church held a major summit on human sexuality in March 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa where conference leaders reaffirmed traditional church views condemning the homosexual lifestyle.

Although a commitment was made to continue studying questions surrounding alternative sexuality and the church, no openly gay presenters were invited to share their views or biblical interpretations.