Looking
back, it’s easy to see that Stepping Up
in Faith: the AIDS 2014 Interfaith Pre-Conference (held on 18–19 July)
previewed many of the significant topics discussed at AIDS 2014, in particular,
stigma, criminalisation, and the need for inclusion and celebration of sexual orientation
and gender diversity in faith-based responses to HIV.
For me,
the stand out presenters at the pre-conference were those who stressed that
faith communities must not only be inclusive and supportive of diversity, but
should be advocates for the rights of all vulnerable populations – including
gay men, transgender people and sex workers.
