‘We too are human’: Religious experiences of gay and lesbian Christians in Harare
The issue of same-sex relationships is complex in Zimbabwe because of the prevailing hostile legal provisions, and cultural and religious beliefs. While it is a criminal offence to practise same-sex relationships in Zimbabwe, the Constitution of Zimbabwe does not tolerate any discrimination against...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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AOSIS
2024-01-01
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| Series: | HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/8990 |
| _version_ | 1797336109253918720 |
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| author | Conrad Chibango |
| author_facet | Conrad Chibango |
| author_sort | Conrad Chibango |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The issue of same-sex relationships is complex in Zimbabwe because of the prevailing hostile legal provisions, and cultural and religious beliefs. While it is a criminal offence to practise same-sex relationships in Zimbabwe, the Constitution of Zimbabwe does not tolerate any discrimination against people. The debate on same-sex relationships has been on spotlight in Zimbabwe since 1995 when the late former President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, disparaged same-sex relationships as not only unnatural and un-African, but also unchristian. The practice of same-sex relationships has since remained politicised in Zimbabwe and elsewhere within the African region and those practising it have often been discriminated against by society. This article used a qualitative methodology to explore the religious experiences of Christians in same-sex relationships in Harare, using insights from the notion of ubuntu. Field data were gathered through social media from purposively selected respondents who were living in same-sex relationships. Findings revealed that these people felt discriminated against and unsafe in their own churches. Based on these findings, it is argued that despite their respective views on same-sex relationships, the African church should respect the dignity of the people involved in these relationships, and should also create safe spaces for them.
Contribution: The article promotes sensitivity to the needs of minority groups in the society and encourages the provision of appropriate guidance on how to deal with the phenomenon of same-sex relationships. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:49:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6a0a2bab336141b9bb631c8fbd2650fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0259-9422 2072-8050 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:49:20Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-6a0a2bab336141b9bb631c8fbd2650fe2024-02-01T12:39:44ZafrAOSISHTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies0259-94222072-80502024-01-01802e1e810.4102/hts.v80i2.89905860‘We too are human’: Religious experiences of gay and lesbian Christians in HarareConrad Chibango0Department of Philosophy and Religion, School of Heritage and Education, Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe; and Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, PretoriaThe issue of same-sex relationships is complex in Zimbabwe because of the prevailing hostile legal provisions, and cultural and religious beliefs. While it is a criminal offence to practise same-sex relationships in Zimbabwe, the Constitution of Zimbabwe does not tolerate any discrimination against people. The debate on same-sex relationships has been on spotlight in Zimbabwe since 1995 when the late former President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, disparaged same-sex relationships as not only unnatural and un-African, but also unchristian. The practice of same-sex relationships has since remained politicised in Zimbabwe and elsewhere within the African region and those practising it have often been discriminated against by society. This article used a qualitative methodology to explore the religious experiences of Christians in same-sex relationships in Harare, using insights from the notion of ubuntu. Field data were gathered through social media from purposively selected respondents who were living in same-sex relationships. Findings revealed that these people felt discriminated against and unsafe in their own churches. Based on these findings, it is argued that despite their respective views on same-sex relationships, the African church should respect the dignity of the people involved in these relationships, and should also create safe spaces for them. Contribution: The article promotes sensitivity to the needs of minority groups in the society and encourages the provision of appropriate guidance on how to deal with the phenomenon of same-sex relationships.https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/8990same-sex relationshipschristianityhuman dignityreligionubuntuharare |
| spellingShingle | Conrad Chibango ‘We too are human’: Religious experiences of gay and lesbian Christians in Harare HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies same-sex relationships christianity human dignity religion ubuntu harare |
| title | ‘We too are human’: Religious experiences of gay and lesbian Christians in Harare |
| title_full | ‘We too are human’: Religious experiences of gay and lesbian Christians in Harare |
| title_fullStr | ‘We too are human’: Religious experiences of gay and lesbian Christians in Harare |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘We too are human’: Religious experiences of gay and lesbian Christians in Harare |
| title_short | ‘We too are human’: Religious experiences of gay and lesbian Christians in Harare |
| title_sort | we too are human religious experiences of gay and lesbian christians in harare |
| topic | same-sex relationships christianity human dignity religion ubuntu harare |
| url | https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/8990 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT conradchibango wetooarehumanreligiousexperiencesofgayandlesbianchristiansinharare |