IGLTA Chair
Award
2016:
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Global LGBT travel association
to honor the legendary
South African human rights
advocate during historic first
conference in Africa
A
rchbishop Desmond Tutu will receive
the International Gay & Lesbian Travel
Association’s prestigious Chair Award
for 2016.
The award recipient is selected by the head of the
IGLTA board of directors and presented to an
individual or business that has made the world a
more welcoming place for lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender travelers.
“As we’re holding our convention on the African
continent for the first time, I cannot think of a better
award recipient than Archbishop Desmond Tutu,”
says IGLTA Board Chair Dan Melesurgo. “He has been
a global inspiration since the demise of apartheid,
using his high profile to campaign for the oppressed
and defend human rights. He is a true leader in the
fight against HIV/AIDS, poverty, racism, sexism,
homophobia and transphobia.”
Tutu’s rise to international prominence began when
he became the first black person to be appointed the
Anglican Dean of Johannesburg in 1975 and emerged
as one of the most eloquent voices of the South African
anti-apartheid movement.
In 1984, he received the Nobel Peace Prize. Although
he retired as Archbishop of Cape Town in 1996, he
remains a moral compass for the continent, speaking
out against the anti-gay policies of other African
countries. Tutu has been widely quoted as saying, I
would not worship a God who is homophobic and that
is how deeply I feel about this.”
The 2016 IGLTA Chair Award will be presented as
part of the opening keynote session (on 14 April)
of the IGLTA’s 33rd Annual Global Convention at
the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town in
cooperation with the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy
Foundation.
IGLTA Annual Global Convention would not be
possible without the generous support of our
convention sponsors. NGLCC; South Africa Tourism;
South African Airways; USAID; Rhino Africa; Silversea
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