LGBTIQ+ And Faith To Take Centre Stage At Celebration Held In Ħaġar Qim
This year’s EuroPride is not going to be just one big party– in fact, this year, an extra special event will be held at one of Malta’s prehistoric temples, aiming to highlight the important intersections between faith, the LGBTIQ+ reality and family roots.
The family experience is essential to human beings to feel they are loved, and therefore, Drachma LGBTI and Drachma Parents Group are hosting three events from the 15th to the 17th September: An interfaith Celebration, a Love and Faith conference, as well as an international conference for parents of LGBTI+ persons.
Faith has often been used to delegitimise and criminalise LGBTIQ+ people for being different, considering them as objective disorders, unnatural and not part of the divine plan for creation.
However, LGBTIQ+ people are also spiritual beings and many find their faith to be a source of enrichment, growth, integrity, and empowerment. Religion holds in them the potential for the celebration of love in all its forms.
The first activity will involve an inter-faith celebration involving delegates from different faith backgrounds and will be held at one of the prehistoric temples in Malta.
Throughout the long history of the Maltese Islands, it has always embraced religion and therefore, against a unique backdrop, the delegates will be invited to look past religious differences and give importance to the deeper spiritual connections that bring us closer together.
The second activity will involve a conference with the theme of love and faith. The conference will bring together LGBTIQ+ persons, family members and other allies to explore different faith experiences.
It will include a human library experience where delegates will share their own insights while discussing the input given by five speakers from different religious and spiritual backgrounds.
The last activity will involve a gathering of parents of LGBTIQ+ persons from around Europe, who will share their stories and consider how they can be more helpful especially in those parts of Europe where homophobia, bi-phobia and transphobia are still strong – with special attention to Eastern European countries where LGBTIQ+ people are still facing many challenges.
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