‘We Were Verbally Abused’: How a Kerala Church’s LGBTQ-Themed Star Sparked Row

 | 
12/26/2022

A church in Kerala’s Ernakulam district is in the eye of a storm for spreading the message of ‘one love’ through an LGBTQIA+-themed decorative star that it had put up this Christmas. What happened? A youth group at St Mary’s Forane Church in Tripunithura hung the star around three weeks ago with the intention of spreading the message of “humanism, inclusivity, and fraternity.” Days later, the church and its members were allegedly subjected to cyberbullying by “religious fundamentalists,” James Panavelil, the assistant vicar of the parish, told The Quint. What did the church say? James Panavelil added that “religious fanatic groups like CASA (Christian Association and Alliance for Social Action) and Marthoma Margam, who have very aggressive beliefs, started circulating photos of the star and launched a hate campaign against us. We were all portrayed in a bad light on WhatsApp groups for spreading a progressive message.”

Regions: ,

Share this:

Latest Global News

Added on: 12/27/2024
12/26/2024
Lagos, Nigeria  — Before meeting her chosen family, Beauty, a lesbian woman and activist, struggled with identity and acceptance within her traditional family. Reflecting on her …
Added on: 12/27/2024
12/26/2024
Apple has defended the reported removal of a number of independent media apps and VPN services from its Russian App Store as a means …
Added on: 12/27/2024
12/26/2024
While some nations have been improving rights for the LGBTQ+ community both in terms of family planning and wider society in 2024, other countries will …

Explore LGBTQ+ Issues

Other News from ,

Added on: 12/25/2024
Syria’s newly established authorities will prioritize matters concerning the status of the LGBT community, regulations regarding women’s attire, and the consumption of alcohol, as …
Added on: 12/24/2024
2024 saw many historic and horrifying moments – nationally and globally. Beyond genocides, alarming climate records, and civil unrest – sexual and gender-based violence …
Added on: 12/23/2024
Francois Zankih was forced to flee Syria in 2020 after Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) twice kidnapped him and eventually issued a death notice against him. Despite this, the human …