“The existence of laws discriminating against sexual minorities as such can have no justification in societies that are serious about law itself,” [Rowan] Williams declared in a public lecture at the headquarters of the ecumenical WCC.
“Such laws reflect a refusal to recognize that minorities belong, and they are indeed comparable to racial discrimination,” the archbishop said.
Concern for protection of sexual minorities from violence and intimidation did not imply approval of homosexual behavior on moral grounds. “Religion and culture have their own arguments on these matters,” he added.