Seminar on Religion, inclusiveness and Sexual Minorities, Bangalore, 24th August 2009

[Guest guest]

Sangama

and

Aneka

 

invite you to a discussion

on

 

“Religion,

inclusiveness and Sexual Minorities”

 

on 24th August

2009, Monday  from 2 PM to 6 PM

at the NGO

Hall, Cubbon Park, Opposite Vikasa Soudha, Bangalore –

560001. Phone: 080 22354784

 

Speakers include:

Swami

Agnivesh, Guruji Vinaykar,

Dr. Asgar Ali Engineer, Dr. Saleem Kidwai, Mr. Rajkumar, Fr. K. C. Abraham, Mr. Selvaraj and Ms. Manasi  Baindur

 

 

Issues of

sexuality and gender are hotly contested in both religious communities and

national cultures around the world. Further when the question relates to

homosexuality and  transgenderism they invoke sharper responses, from

ideas that this these are sinful, shameful, perversion and deserving of the

highest punishment and wrath of god; to ambiguity and limited tolerance and

even acceptance.

In the wake of the judgement on IPC section 377 by the Delhi High Court, that

decriminalises homosexuality many religious bodies have condemned the judgement

arguing that it was against religion, immoral and even against Indian culture.

These people have been quoted repeatedly by the media and have also been

invited to speak at various fora on these issues. This emphasises the notion

that religious traditions are inherently conservative or even reactionary in

their  commitments to powerful patriarchal and pronatalist (encouraging

child bearing) sexual norms and gender categories.

However there have also been voices that spoke differently and adopted a more

nuanced stand. These however have got scant attention. It is these voices that

Sangama and Aneka is seeking to bring together to illustrate the diverse,

complex and at times even contradictory traditions and practices that come

under the broad rubric of “religion”. There are also sexual minorities who are

people of faith; embracing both religion and their sexuality with joy  who

are again invisible in the discourse. The basic tenets of all religions that

are love and compassion; and recognizing the divine in all beings. This then

makes the attitude of hate and violence inadmissible.

Religions have also been influenced by strong movements for rights and have

changed their position on for example issues related to women. The texts and

practices are constantly being reinterpreted by people coming from other

perspectives and they have transformed religion. The time is now ripe for such

an engagement between religion and issues of sexual minorities. We invite all

of you to come and be part of this discussion.

-- http://manoharban.wordpress.com/