wfn.org | Historic Meeting Held Between

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Nobel Peace Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu 
and the Reverend Troy D. Perry, Moderator of the
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches
and International Gay Rights Activist

Details and Photos at http://www.ufmcc.com

A meeting of historic significance to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered communities took place on Dec. 12 as two internationally
recognized human rights activists met in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Rev. Troy D. Perry, moderator of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan
Community Churches, met with Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu
in Johannesburg for a wide-ranging discussion of human rights issues. Others
in attendance for this historic meeting included the archbishop's wife, Leah;
Rev. Perry's spouse, Phillip DeBlieck; and the Rev. Andre Muller, UFMCC area
coordinator for South Africa.

The meeting began with cordial greetings, following by Archbishop Tutu's
request that the group open in prayer. The archbishop led the group in a
prayer of welcome and affirmation.

During the meeting, Rev. Perry expressed thanks to Archbishop Tutu for his
work to include protections on the basis of sexual orientation in the new
South African constitution. Perry shared how this accomplishment has helped to
mobilize the American Gay Rights Movement in seeking protections from the
United States Congress, including laws that would ensure basic rights to
lesbian, gay, transgendered and bisexual citizens to work for a living without
the fear of discrimination.

Both Archbishop Tutu and Reverend Perry discussed the roles that religion
plays in the on-going debates around sexual orientation. Archbishop Tutu noted
that religious fundamentalists have questioned the right of the government to
add sexual orientation to the South African Constitution and want simple
answers to life's hard questions. "Some people always try to take the Bible
literally and legalistically," he said, adding "Quoting the Bible is not
enough."

The Archbishop further stated, "Parents must love their children. It is a
shame that fathers still teach their sons not to cry as though that would make
them seem like a woman. Fathers teach their sons not to have real feelings.
Every human being should rejoice and celebrate both our masculine and feminine
sides."

Reverend Perry and Archbishop Tutu also reviewed a range of other human rights
and spiritual justice issues, including their common opposition to the death
penalty.

Archbishop Tutu discussed his work as chair of South Africa's Truth and
Reconciliation Commission, which will conclude its work in June of 1998. At
that time, Tutu will become a visiting professor at Emery University in
Atlanta, Georgia.

Reverend Perry extended an invitation for Archbishop Tutu to address the 1999
General Conference and World Jubilee of the Universal Fellowship of
Metropolitan Community Churches in Los Angeles, California, at which the
denomination will dedicate its new $5 million UFMCC World Center complex. The
archbishop indicted his residence in the US at that time made it more likely
that he might be able to accept the invitation.

The meeting finished with Reverend Perry assuring the Archbishop that he is
surrounded with the prayers of all MCCers for continued good health after his
recent bout with prostate cancer.

ADDENDUM:
Due to the international attention focused upon the archbishop's work with the
South African Truth & Reconciliation Commission, the meeting almost did not
take place. A message to Rev. Perry from the Archbishop's staff initially
noted that the meeting needed to be canceled because of "the exhausting
hearings involving Mrs. Winnie Madikezela-Mandela and the State Security
Council," which ran a week over the time scheduled for it. In the message, the
archbishop's assistant said, "The Archbishop is particularly supportive of the
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches and...would like to
meet Rev. Perry. As you know this has been exhausting and demanding work to
which he is devoting all of his energy and attention."

However, on Dec. 8th, and aide to the archbishop phoned with the news that a
scheduling change had made it possible for Archbishop Tutu to meet with Rev.
Perry.

(END)

_____________________________
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