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Press Release: Changing Attitude Nigeria holds successful first General Meeting
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Press release – 29 November 2005 Changing Attitude Nigeria holds successful first General Meeting For the first time in Nigeria’s history, gay and lesbian Anglicans came together at the weekend in Abuja for the first General Meeting of Changing Attitude Nigeria (CAN) and declared that prejudice against them was as “unacceptable as racism or prejudice against women.” Lesbian and gay people came from all parts of Nigeria to attend the Meeting. David MacIyalla, Director of CAN, addressing the members of the group, said the meeting was to enable members to deliberate on how to come out of their closets (the theme of the weekend), and let the members of their various families know who they are. According to Davis, the Archbishop of All Nigeria, the Most Revd Peter Akinola, has been telling the other Primates and Provinces an untruth when he says that gays and lesbians do not exist in Nigeria and are not part of the Anglican Church. Davis said contrary to Archbishop Akinola’s claims, that most of the members at the meeting were born into the Anglican Church and that some of their parents held responsible positions in the Church. Davis MacIyalla said “We are creating a group of lesbian and gay members of the Anglican Church in Nigeria, lay and ordained. We are also prepared to be open and visible within the Church with the aim of meeting together to develop ideas, aims and objectives. Gay, lesbian and bisexual people are called by God to express their sexuality in loving, faithful and committed relationships. Therefore the Church should stop colluding with cultural repression and discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual people in all parts of the world. “I am full of joy at the end of the Meeting. God is great. About 360 people were at the opening on Friday afternoon. More than 800 people came for the second meeting later on Friday and the meeting lasted until 4am. We worshipped, ate and prayed together. The meeting was held openly so that we can now tell everyone that gay Nigerians met together and came out of their closets.” Reporters from the New York Times and the Nigerian Daily Sun came on Saturday to report on the meeting. Also present were Dare Odumuye and members from Alliance Rights Nigeria and Bisi Alimi from Friends Unite Nigeria. On Saturday, Davis MacIyalla addressed the meeting and papers were read on behalf of the Revd Colin Coward, Director of Changing Attitude UK and the Rt Revd Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire. The Network plans to write to Archbishop Peter Akinola officially, introducing CAN and asking for a meeting with him. The Network also plans to establish new groups in towns such as Calaber and Jos. For further information please contact Davis Mac-Iyalla, Director of Changing Attitude Nigeria In the UK: END |
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