Screen Readers Skip to Content

Global Interfaith Network Conference - Johannesburg, South Africa

Author: Global Inter faith Network
Published: 23rd Feb 2014 - Updated: 27th Aug 2015
Peer-Reviewed Publication: N/A
Additional References: LGBT News Africa Publications

Summary: Conference participants represented a rich diversity of sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions that are a part of the human family.


Main Document

We are very pleased and proud to announce the formal establishment of the Global Interfaith Network for People of all Sexes, Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities and Expressions (GINSSOGIE) following our first annual conference, held in South Africa in January 2014.

The idea for a global network of activists engaged in faith work around issues of sex, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions germinated at the 2012 International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (ILGA) World Conference in Stockholm. GIN recognizes an urgent need to eradicate the religion-based violence, criminalization and persecution of our community.

The South Africa conference gathered 68 delegates from more than 35 countries, representing a wide array of faiths and denominations. The participants represented an authentic and rich diversity of sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions that are a part of the human family. Since day one, GIN has centered its leadership and organizing base in the countries where violence and bigotry are greatest, including, but not limited to, places in the Global South.

The four-day gathering focused on the pillars that ground our work: creating safe spaces, organizing skills, scriptural and academic resources, founding structures, and building a new faith-convicted and inclusive narrative in human rights arenas.

The Steering Committee, elected from a uniquely diverse membership representing many faiths and backgrounds, had this to say about the new network's purpose: "People from all over the world have worked together across cultures and faiths to give birth to a new organization and a new narrative in human rights and religion. GIN aims to create solidarity amongst our community's people of faith, to promote interfaith dialogue, and strengthen our voices within the institutions and structures that govern our lives. We seek to overcome the falsely fabricated rift between our community and faith traditions."

GIN will also provide resources, training, and collective programmes to help individuals and organisations engage in meaningful, constructive dialogue with religious leaders and advocate at the regional and international level for dignity and rights.

GIN's goals are mutual understanding, respect, inclusion and acceptance

Post to Twitter Add to Facebook

Latest LGBT News Africa Publications

The above information is from our reference library of resources relating to LGBT News Africa that includes:

Voluntary medical male circumcision, an effective HIV prevention being scaled up across Eastern and Southern Africa, has been shown to reduce men’s risk of heterosexually-acquiring HIV and some sexually transmitted infections. thumbnail image
Expanding access to voluntary medical male circumcision in Africa may help protect women against HIV and sexually transmitted infections.
Publish Date: 14th Oct 2017
Niaye is 12 and she is still in school (Delphine Diallo - Save the Children) thumbnail imageHamdila is now 23 but was married at 13 (Delphine Diallo - Save the Children) thumbnail imageNdiaye (left) aged 12 and Fatoumata (right) aged 14 (Delphine Diallo - Save the Children) thumbnail imageFrom left to right - Diamila (38), Mariama (42), Hamdila (23), Daba (23), Fatima (23) (Delphine Diallo - Save the Children) thumbnail imageFatima was married to a man she had barely met aged just 14 (Delphine Diallo - Save the Children) thumbnail imageHawa now aged 25 was forced to marry her husband when she was 14 (Delphine Diallo - Save the Children) thumbnail imageAdama (Delphine Diallo - Save the Children) thumbnail image
Save the Children and World Bank research reveals more than 20,000 girls are married every day below the minimum age permitted by national law.
Publish Date: 12th Oct 2017 - Updated: 29th Apr 2018
Polygamy & Alcohol Linked to Abuse in African Marriages thumbnail image.
African women in polygamous marriages or with alcoholic husbands at higher risk of physical abuse by husbands than women in monogamous marriages or women whose husbands don't abuse alcohol.
Publish Date: 27th Aug 2015
Women Who Took Part in VOICE Tell Why They Didn't Use HIV Prevention thumbnail image.
VOICE, a large HIV prevention trial, did not find any of the three products that were tested to be effective.
Publish Date: 29th Oct 2014 - Updated: 27th Nov 2014


1Transgender Reporting Guide
How to write about transgender people.

2Am I Gay? Questions to Ask
Think you may be gay or bisexual?

3Glossary of Sexuality Terms
Definitions of sexual terms & acronyms.

4LGBTQ+ Pride Flags
Symbols of Identity and Inclusion.

5LGBT Awareness Dates
Important LGBTQ community awareness days, remembrance dates, and coming pride events.

• Submissions: Send us your coming events and LGBTQ related news stories.


• Report Errors: Please report outdated or inaccurate information to us.



• (APA): Global Inter faith Network. (2014, February 23). Global Interfaith Network Conference - Johannesburg, South Africa. SexualDiversity.org. Retrieved November 8, 2024 from www.sexualdiversity.org/news/africa/107.php


• Permalink: <a href="https://www.sexualdiversity.org/news/africa/107.php">Global Interfaith Network Conference - Johannesburg, South Africa</a>