Hundreds of Prominent Faith Leaders Oppose Anti-LGBTQ Measures Advancing in Texas Legislature
Hundreds of Clergy Assert "Bathroom Bills" like HB 2899 and Cluster of Religious Refusal Bills Are Counter to "Backbone of Religious Traditions," Hand Deliver Letters of Opposition to Key Legislative Leaders As Clergy Gather Outside of House Chamber for Prayer Gathering
Washington, D.C. - May 3, 2017 – Prominent faith leaders from across the country joined forces today in urging Texas legislators to oppose a series of anti-LGBTQ measures advancing rapidly through the state legislature, specifically calling out controversial anti-trans bathroom bills, HB 2899 and SB 6, and several religious refusal bills that provide businesses and government entities a license to discriminate against LGBTQ Texans. Nearly two dozen anti-LGBTQ bills are under consideration in Texas. The call for opposition was made via a letter signed by more than 100 national religious leaders from across the country, and hand-delivered to legislative offices today with another letter signed by more than 200 Texas-based faith leaders. Texas clergy also gathered outside of the House chamber to pray and to take their message opposing discrimination directly to legislators.
The national letter, which was signed by the heads of seven religious denominations, the president of eight seminaries, and the leaders of more than 40 religious organizations, among scores of other high-level leaders, asserts that the proposed measures "threaten the dignity and equal treatment of LGBTQ people and violate the very tenets of love and justice that are the backbone of our religious traditions."
"Legislation that allows discrimination against LGBTQ people violates the basic tenets of any faith," said Rev. John Dorhauer, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, who is among the signatories of the national letter. "The ideas of justice and equality in the eyes of God are among the most fundamental elements of faith and are the values our democracy was founded on. We cannot stand silent while politicians seek to marginalize and dehumanize vulnerable members of our community – and especially justify doing so in the name of religion."
Faith leaders were compelled to join forces and speak out as anti-LGBTQ bills are gaining traction in the Texas legislature. The controversial, anti-trans "bathroom bill" known as HB 2899, would ban cities across Texas from passing non-discrimination ordinances to protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination and nullify existing non-discrimination ordinances that currently protect millions of Texans. The bill is similar in scope to legislation enacted in North Carolina that spurred public outrage and backlash, resulting in a boycott of North Carolina by corporations, sports leagues, and celebrities and, according to a recent analysis from the Associated Press, will cost the state more than $3.76 billion in lost business over a dozen years. Unlike North Carolina, Texas has coupled its attack on transgender residents with a broader effort to undermine LGBTQ equality. The Legislature is considering bills that permit or even require discrimination in almost every facet of life, often under the guise of protecting "religious liberty."
Rev. Fred Davie, Executive Vice President, Union Seminary NYC said: "Our faith traditions call us to seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly. God beseeches us to treat each other with dignity and respect. Our faith does not justify discrimination against LGBTQ people, or anyone else. The idea of religious freedom-which is a core principle of our democracy-has been distorted by those who seek license to treat LGBTQ people as less than human. Wherever human dignity is threatened, our faith requires that we speak out."
In addition to the letter from national religious leaders, which was organized by the Religious Institute, more than 200 faith leaders in Texas also signed a letter to legislators and gathered at the Capitol today to pray and demonstrate their strong opposition to the proposed measures. Texas Believes (www.TexasBelieves.org), a coalition of interfaith clergy who support equality for LGBTQ people, organized the event, which included delivering both letters in person to legislative offices.
"The outpouring of opposition from faith leaders of all backgrounds should make the moral argument very clear to legislators set to cast votes to legalize discrimination," said Rev. Karen Thompson, senior pastor at Metropolitan Community Church-Austin. "The Golden Rule – treat others as you want to be treated – is a basic tenet of every major faith tradition. Lawmakers can't hide behind religion in passing these discriminatory measures."
Below is the full text of the national letter as well as the list of more than 100 clergy who signed the letter (which you can also access here). The Texas letter can be accessed here.
May 3, 2017
To: All public and elected officials,
As religious leaders and people of faith, we are committed to creating a society that embraces the diversity of God’s creation and affirms the inherent dignity, agency, and worth of people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. We believe all people must be free to express their gender and sexuality, unburdened by discrimination, unequal treatment, or systemic injustice. We come from many places, backgrounds, and religious traditions, but we hold these commitments and beliefs in common.
Our faiths compel us to oppose legislation that seeks to stigmatize and marginalize transgender people in particular, legitimize discrimination against all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, or abuse the notion of religious freedom to deny basic rights and protections to others. In many cases, these bills further false narratives and lead to greater hostility and violence toward transgender and gender non-conforming people. These bills also threaten the dignity and equal treatment of LGBTQ people in general and violate the very tenets of love and justice that are the backbone of our religious traditions.
We will continue to speak out against all attempts to use religion to demonize, discriminate against, or bring harm to LGBTQ people, and transgender people in particular, in the public sphere. We encourage all elected officials to join us in publicly supporting policies that promote the civil and human rights of LGBTQ people, including non-discrimination and access to public accommodations. Together, we must commit to creating communities that embody justice for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations.
Endorsers of the statement:
Imam Daayiee Abdullah
Executive Director, MECCA Institute
Dr. Michael Adee
Director, Global Faith & Justice Project
Rev. Dan Adolphson
Moderator, GLAD Alliance
Rev. Marie Alford-Harkey
President and CEO. Religious Institute
Dr. Ellen T. Armour
Carpenter Professor of Theology, Vanderbilt Divinity School
Rev. Raymond J. Bagnuolo
Chaplain and Minster Director, That All May Freely Serve
Rev. Dr. Lee Barker
President, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
Executive Director, Campaign for Southern Equality
Matt Berryman
Executive Director, Reconciling Ministries Network
Rev. Sofia Betancourt
Interim Co-President, Unitarian Universalist Association
Rev. Dr. Ken Brooker Langston
Director, Disciples Justice Action Network
Rabbi Sharon Brous
Senior Rabbi, IKAR
The Rev. Elder Rachelle Brown
Interim Moderator, Metropolitan Community Churches
Bishop Pat Bumgardner
Executive Director, Global Justice Institute, Metropolitan Community Churches
Rev Jennifer Butler
CEO, Faith in Public Life
Rev Dr. Noel Castellanos
President, CCDA
Rev. Dr. Michael Castle
President, Alliance of Baptists
Ms. Catherine Chapman
Executive Director, Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists
Richard Cizik
President, New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good
Rev. Ann Craig
The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
Mr. Michael Crumpler
LGBTQ and Intercultural Programs Manager, Unitarian Universalist Association
Rev. Fred Davie
Executive Vice President, Union Seminary NYC
Rev. Dr. Miguel De La Torre
Professor of Social Ethics and Latinx Studies, Iliff School of Theology
Ronald Degges
President, Disciples Home Missions
Deaconess Darlene DiDomineck
Executive Director, Methodist Federation for Social Action
Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer
General Minister and President, United Church of Christ
Ms. Marianne Duddy-Burke
Executive Director, DignityUSA
Rev. Eric Eldritch
Interfaith Coordinator, Center Faith (DC)
Rev. Brian Ellison
Executive Director, Covenant Network of Presbyterians
Rev. Dr. Marvin M. Ellison
Director of Alumni Relations, Union Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder
Presiding Bishop, The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
Jane Fredricksen
Executive Director, FaithTrust Institute
The Rev Wil Gafney
Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible, Brite Divinity School
Dr. Bruce Garner
President, Integrity USA
Rev. Elder Darlene Garner
Director of Emerging Ministries, Metropolitan Community Churches
Prof. William Graham
Former Dean, Harvard Divinity School
Rev. Dr. Larry Greenfield
Executive Director, Parliament of the World's Religions
Dr. Sharon Groves
Vice President, Partner Engagement, Auburn Seminary
Rev. Dr. David Gushee
Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics, Mercer University
Rev. Dr. Debra Haffner
President Emerita, Religious Institute
Dr. W. Scott Haldeman
Associate Professor of Worship, Chicago Theological Seminary
Rev. Cedric A Harmon
Executive Director, Many Voices: A Black Church Movement for Gay & Transgender (LGBTQ) Justice
Rev. Dr. Katharine Henderson
President, Auburn Seminary
Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza
Public Theologian in Residence, Faith Matters Network
Dr. Mary E. Hunt
Co-director, Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER)
Zachary Johnson
Executive Director, Call to Action
Rev. Dr. Mark Johnston
Executive Director, Open & Affirming Ministries, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Dr. Serene Jones
President, Union Seminary NYC
Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter
Sr. Minister, First Unitarian Church of Dallas
Zr. Alex Kapitan
Co-founder, Transforming Hearts Collective
Nancy K. Kaufman
Chief Executive Officer, National Council of Jewish Women
Idit Klein
Executive Director, Keshet
Pastor Steve Knight
Founder and Board Member, Transform Network
Mr. Bruce Knotts
Director, United Nations Office Unitarian Universalist Association
Rabbi Debra Kolodny
Rabbi, Portland's Un Shul
Dr. Joel Kushner
Director, Institute for Judaism, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity
Andrew Lang
Executive Director, Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ
Right Rev. Edward Lee
Bishop, The Episcopal Church
Rabbi Michael Lerner
Chair, Network of Spiritual Progressives
The Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis
Senior Minister, Middle Collegiate Church
Rev. Barry Lynn
Executive Director, Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Rev. Dr. Joretta Marshall
Executive Vice President and Dean, Brite Divinity School
Rev. Dr. James McDonald
President, San Francisco Theological Seminary
Dr. Keisha E. McKenzie
Program Director, Believe Out Loud
Dr. Brian McLaren
Senior Fellow. Auburn Seminary
Alex McNeill
Executive Director, More Light Presbyterians
Rabbi Jay Michaelson
Affiliated Assistant Professor, Chicago Theological Seminary
Dr. Diann Neu
Co-Director, Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual
Jon O'Brien
President, Catholics for Choice
Rabbi Dr. Aaron Panken
President, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Ms. Marilyn Paarlberg
Executive Director, Room for All (RCA)
Rev. Debra Peevey
Community Activist, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner
Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Dr. Judith Plaskow
Professor Emerita, Manhattan College
Rev. LeDayne McLeese Polaski
Executive Director, BPFNA ~ Bautistas por la Paz
Bishop Tonyia Rawls
Founder, The Freedom Center for Social Justice
Bishop Gene Robinson
Retired Bishop of New Hampshire, The Episcopal Church
Rabbi Dennis Ross
Director, Concerned Clergy for Choice
The Rev. Canon Susan Russell
Senior Associate, All Saints Episcopal Church
Rev. Frank Schaefer
Pastor, United Methodist Church
Dr. Bernard Schlager
Executive Director Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion
Rev. Michael Schuenemeyer
Executive for Health and Wholeness Advocacy, United Church of Christ
Bishop John Selders
Co-Founder, Moral Monday CT
William Sinkford
Interim Co-President, Unitarian Universalist Association
Rev. Mykal Slack
Co-Director, Freedom Center for Social Justice
Gregory Sterling
Dean and Professor, Yale Divinity School
Rabbi David Stern
President, Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rev. Kristin Stoneking
Executive Director, Fellowship of Reconciliation
Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow
Senior Pastor, Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit
Rev. Dr. Justin Tanis
Managing Director, Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion
Aubrey Thonvold
Executive Director, ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation
Bishop Joseph Tolton
National Minister of Global Justice, The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
Rev. Dr. Emilie Townes
Dean, Vanderbilt Divinity School
Rev. Cameron Trimble
CEO, Center for Progressive Renewal
Rev. Dr. David Vasquez-Levy
President, Pacific School of Religion
Rev. John Vaughn
Executive Vice President, Auburn Seminary
Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel
Director, Center for Sustainable Justice
Minister Naomi Washington-Leapheart
Faith Work Director, The National LGBTQ Task Force
Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins
General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rabbi Elyse Wechterman
Executive Director, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
Lisa Weiner-Mahfuz
Executive for Program and Strategic Partnerships, Religious Coalition for
Reproductive Choice
Rev. Dr. Traci West
Professor of Christian Ethics and African American Studies, Drew Theological School
Rev. angel Kyodo Williams
Founder and Senior Fellow, Center for Transformative Change
Dr. Newell Williams
President and Professor of Church History, Brite Divnity School
Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson
Former Moderator, Metropolitan Community Churches
Rev. Dr. Karen-Marie Yust
Rowe Professor of Christian Education, Union Presbyterian Seminary
Ani Zonneveld
President, Muslims for Progressive Values
