IAM was founded in 1995 in Cape Town and has gained national and international recognition for its work in the fight against discrimination of gay and lesbian people.
IAM is the only organisation in South Africa that officially targets the religious leaders of the mainline church communities – especially those that still adhere to patriarchal and fundamentalist values.
We also partner with organisations in other Southern African Countries. |
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The activities of IAM during the past fifteen years have included enhancing dialogue, empowering through counselling and training, research, development of resources, networking and maintaining visibility. - Stimulating dialogue, advocacy and networking
- Over 40, 000 brochures and media-kits have been distributed
- We have held 17 Conferences and IAM has been invited as the guest speaker to 24 other conferences or gatherings
- 220 congregations have been addressed where group discussions formed part of the process
- 34 study groups focusing on the authority of Scripture and homosexuality were held
- Ad hoc committees on homosexuality from five different denominations used IAM in their discussions
- IAM has written numerous reports with or for some of the major study commissions on homosexuality
- 1200 gay and lesbian individuals have received counselling
- The first Parents Support Group in Southern Africa was established in 2004
- IAM developed a training manual to empower LGBTI people to reconcile their sexuality with their spirituality and to enable them to dialogue more freely with their Churches on this issue
- Successful trainings were given in Namibia and in South Africa.
- In 2000, a comprehensive research project was conducted among 3, 600 clergy from 7 different denominations. It tested their knowledge, exposure and attitude towards homosexuality. The results of this study were then distributed to all the participants, the media and the leadership of the denominations involved. This research resulted in IAM being invited to participate in major studies conducted by the Anglican and Dutch Reformed Churches.
- Various articles have been written and distributed in Afrikaans and English . Pieter was a contributor to the book, ‘Aliens in the Household of God’, which specifically addresses homophobia within Southern Africa Churches.
- Christian and Gay (Gelowig and Gay), written by Pieter and carel Anthonissen and published 2001, has been sold out.
- IAM produced a professional documentary, ‘Created in the Image of God’ , in July 2003, which to date has been used in over 260 venues. More than 1500 copies have been sold or distributed thus far. This documentary is now available on DVD
- A Booklet on the “anti-gay” verses in the Bible was published
- A training manual on the dialogue process was producedA Bible-Study Manual dealing with the eight “homosexual” references in the Bible was produced.
- IAM participated in 24 national radio programmes, 5 regional radio talk shows and 2 national television interviews.
- Regional and national newspapers have frequently covered our work or asked for comment on related issues. Three feature articles have appeared in separate major magazines.
- IAM networked with the traditional black Churches in the township of Gugulethu and is presently running two support groups for LGBTI people there.
- IAM’s newsletter, reaches over 1000 individuals. Through this medium we are also able to reach the wider LGBTI community.
- IAM made two written and four verbal submissions to the Portfolio Committees of Parliament dealing with the same-sex marriage Bill.
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