Archbishop Desmond 
Tutu will be the recipient of 2008 Outspoken Award as part of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission's "Celebration of Courage" human rights ceremony.
The Archbishop has been a vocal advocate for LGBT rights around the world, stating:
If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn't worship that God.
Tutu has increased his criticism of conservative attitudes to homosexuality within his own church, including the rift created by the ordination of openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson. He has said:
Jesus did not say, 'If I be lifted up I will draw some'." Jesus said, 'If I be lifted up I will draw all, all, all, all, all. Black, white, yellow, rich, poor, clever, not so clever, beautiful, not so beautiful. It's one of the most radical things. All, all, all, all, all, all, all, all. All belong. Gay, lesbian, so-called straight. All, all are meant to be held in this incredible embrace that will not let us go. All.
"Archbishop Tutu's vision of a world in which human rights are respected has always explicitly included LGBT people, despite the fierce opposition he has faced from his peers and colleagues," said Paula Ettelbrick, IGLHRC's Executive Director.
The Archbishop lives by a universal code of human rights. At a time when other religious leaders use their faith to divide, he uses his beliefs to fight for the rights of all. Our country's religious leaders could learn much at the feet of this great man.
Comment on this entry
Gee, I knew there was a reason I liked him.
Too bad so many of his peers are such pricks.
diddlygrl | March 27, 2008 10:13 AM
i like that. all, all, all, all, all, all, all. actually, i love it. no "us", no "them"...just all. imagine.....
jerindc | March 27, 2008 10:14 AM
Desmond Tutu is truly a light in the darkness of ignorance and fear. He embodies the living Gospel of Jesus Christ as clearly as one could ever hope, making it crystal clear that the bottom line is always LOVE.
belovedcommunity | March 27, 2008 11:21 AM
Go Desmond Tutu. Definitely an awesome player to have in the African Anglican Communion.
Alex Blaze | March 27, 2008 5:58 PM
Since I’m not particularly superstitious myself I don't generally have anything good at all to say about religious types.
Tutu is an exception. He's in no particular danger now but under the Nationalist Parties apartheid régime he took stands against European racism and for working people that could have gotten him arrested, killed and tortured. He consistently spoke out in spite of the threats and the danger.
And he's not shy about defending people wherever he sees oppression and victimization. He always been a firm supporter of GLBT rights and in Africa, infested as it is by a dismal colonial legacy of mullahs, ministers, pastors and priests, his pro GLBT views earn him plenty of grief. He’s also a firm supporter of the rights of Palestinians’, another group under the heel of a European colonialist apartheid régime. He opposed the oil piracy and steadfastly supports trade union struggles. .
As much as I admire him I do agree with diddlygrl that his peers are usually parasites who are wasting our oxygen.
Bill Perdue | March 27, 2008 9:24 PM
Desmond Tutu is a man of God.
Bil Browning | March 27, 2008 9:42 PM
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