Gay Sikhs invite Lord Singh to WorldPride after marriage ‘attack’ comment
A group for gay and transgender Sikhs in the UK has written to the prime minister and Lord Singh to protest the latter’s comments about equal marriage being a ‘secular attack’ on religion and to invite him to WorldPride.
Sarbat, established in 2007, takes its name from the final line of the Ardas, Prayer of Supplication, and refers to the Sikh concept of happiness and well-being for all mankind.
The group said it disagreed with Lord Singh’s comments on marriage this week and invited him to attend WorldPride with them later this year.
Lord Singh of the Network of Sikh Organisations had told Radio 4′s Today programme marriage equality was an “attempt by a vocal, secular minority to attack religion.”
“We have total respect for gays and lesbians and we are delighted that there is a Civil Partnership Act. We believe that this gives gays and lesbians everything they need.”
Lord Singh had said at the weekend that while the religious scriptures do not condemn homosexuality, the “pursuit of equality” should not “dilute and distort another’s beliefs”.
Sarbat wrote today: “We at Sarbat do not agree with those comments. Sarbat is the only social and support group for LGBT Sikhs in the UK, and we are also the one-stop resource for LGBT Sikhs around the world via our website. We are first and foremost Sikh and our sexuality is secondary to our Sikh identity, just as the sexuality of heterosexual Sikhs is secondary to their Sikh identity.”
The letter adds: “Sarbat trusts and believes that the Government and Parliament as a whole will pay heed to our views on this controversial topic and will take on board that the Sikh faith is not how Lord Singh has sought to portray it in his comments on Radio 4.”
It concludes: “We very much look forward to seeing Lord Singh march at World Pride on 7th July 2012 alongside our gay men and women members under the Sarbat banner.”
PinkNews.co.uk was not immediately able to speak to Lord Singh this afternoon.
