An “expert” with the United Nations has come out with a new report claiming religious freedom is “not incompatible” with the LGBT movement.
QUICK FACTS:
- A new report from an “expert” who advises the United Nations on sexual orientation believes religious freedoms should include the LGBT ideology.
- “Paying attention to the voices and practices of inclusive communities can help to shift narratives claiming that the exercise of freedom of religion or belief is incompatible with the equal enjoyment of human rights by LGBT persons,” Victor Madrigal-Borloz said.
- He claimed that certain religions have been used to “justify violence” and “discrimination” against the ideology.
- “In some cases, religious narratives have been deliberately used to justify violence and discrimination — often in defiance of the doctrine of those faiths, and also beyond the scope of the right freedom of religion or belief,” he continued.
- Madrigal-Borloz believes that all across the world there are “dark corners” where LGBT individuals are shunned from society and need laws to “protect” them.
- “In all latitudes there are dark corners where LGBT people are regarded as sinners and second-class citizens who should be scorned and abused. Laws enacted with the aim of mandating standards of conduct purportedly demanded by interpretations of religious dogma effectively deny lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans and other gender diverse persons the right to equality and, often, equal recognition under the law,” he wrote.
- In his final recommendations, Madrigal-Borloz said States should work to “ensure that any law or public policy relating to the frameworks of religious exemptions or conscientious objection is compatible with international human rights standards and does not negate the access of LGBT and other gender diverse persons to fundamental rights.”
- According to the U.N., Madrigal-Borloz has long been an LGBTQ advocate and recently welcomed Pope Francis’ declaration that homosexuality is “not a crime,” despite the further clarification that in religious circles it is still considered sinful.
U.N.’S MADRIGAL-BORLOZ ON RELIGIONS INCLUDING LGBT IDEOLOGY:
“It is not permissible for individuals or groups to invoke ‘religious liberty’ to perpetuate discrimination against … lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex persons, when it comes to the provision of goods or services in the public sphere,” Madrigal-Borloz said.
BACKGROUND:
- In February 2023, the United Nations announced they were releasing the report in order to push governments to “fully comply with their obligations under international human rights law to protect and empower LGBT+ persons.”
- The announcement explained that while there are “perceived contradictions” between the LGBT+ community and religious freedom, the report aimed to find ways to “protect LGBT+ persons’ access to faith and spirituality” while also indicating that religious beliefs that would contradict this are not “justified” under the protection of human rights.
- “Religious and spiritual narratives have also historically been used to promote, enable, and condone institutional and personal violence and discrimination against individuals based on sexual orientation or gender identity (real or presumed); repress sexual and gender diversity; and promote cis-gendered and heteronormative norms of sexual orientation and gender identity,” the announcement read.
- “These practices cannot be justified under the rubric of Freedom of Religious Beliefs, or indeed any other human right, to circumvent and defeat the rights of marginalized populations.”
