Religion
Related: About this forumReligious Leaders Backing Gay Marriage in NJ, MD, WA
Submitted by GLAAD on Feb 6, 2012
As state legislatures in New Jersey, Maryland, and Washington are moving closer to approving marriage equality legislation, religious voices are speaking out in support of equality. People of faith are often portrayed by their most intolerant elements, particularly around issues of LGBT equality, but the reality is that majorities of most religious communities and individuals support equality for all people.
In Maryland, many of those who are speaking in support of marriage equality come from faith traditions that are often seen as anti-LGBT. Rev. David Gilmore, a Baptist minister, said, Yes I am a traditional black Baptist minister [but] I dont always think like a Baptist. He hopes that the example he sets will lead to more openness in his community. Sister Jeannine Gramick, a Catholic nun who has been a part of the movement for LGBT inclusion in the Roman Catholic Church since the 1970s also voiced her hope that marriage equality would become a reality in Maryland. Other speakers included Rabbi Daniel Burg, who is the rabbi at Beth Am, a Conservative Synagogue in Baltimore, and Episcopal priest Angela Shepherd, who stated: many of us maintain our love for humanity by agreeing to disagree and therefore causing no harm [but] our separation of church and state is being compromised.
Voices of faith are speaking out in support of marriage equality throughout the country. Rev. Steve Parelli, an evangelical Baptist minister who married his partner in Sacramento in 2008, testified in support of marriage equality in New Jersey. In rejecting civil unions, Rev. Parelli quoted Roger Williams, the Baptist founder of the state of Rhode Island, stating: Concession and toleration are neither freedom nor liberty. They are merely other names for oppression because they are the allowance of that which is not wholly approved. He continued: Civil Union with all the rights of marriage, yet without the name of marriage, is not freedom but a concession, is not liberty but toleration; and therefore, Civil Union is but another name for oppression. The Rev. Dr. Traci C. West, Professor of Ethics and African American Studies at Drew University Theological School also released a statement in support of marriage equality in which she expresses sentiments similar to those of Rev. Parelli.
Marriage equality in Washington has seen a surge in support among both clergy and lay people in recent weeks. Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel, Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Olympia notes that religious communities have often struggled with the idea of inclusion in relation to LGBT people of faith. On his own blog, Rev. Rickel argues that gay and lesbian couples are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for equal treatment. They are asking to be accountable, as a couple, in community. Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, who describes herself as having very strong Christian beliefs, announced late last month that she would vote in favor of marriage equality in Washington. Her decision comes from her Christian beliefs, according to her blog post, which states:
For as long as I have been alive, living in my country has been about having the freedom to live according to our own personal and religious beliefs, and having people respect that freedom. [
] My beliefs dictate who I am and how I live, but I dont see where my believing marriage is between a man and a woman gives me the right to decide that for everyone else.
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/gay-issues/religious-leaders-support-marriage-equality-maryland-new-jersey-and-washington
MarkCharles
(2,261 posts)we can't have too many religious leaders helping the cause of equality.
I always have nothing but good things to say about positive assertive humanistic actions of religious folks who stand up against the bigotry we so often see from other major religious figures in the USA.
cleanhippie
(19,705 posts)There seems to be a conflict, here. Good thing that secular groups are the mainstay of this issue of equality. If left up to the religious leaders, gays would be suffering biblical fates at the hands of zealots.
rug
(82,333 posts)cleanhippie
(19,705 posts)And felt it was a valid discussion topic. Now it's discussion time.
Go ahead, take another crack at it rug. Discussion is good for the soul, I'm told, and this being a discussion board, it's reasonable to assume that you wanted to have a discussion on the topic you brought up, right?
So try something different for a change, and have a discussion.
rug
(82,333 posts)GLAAD posted it. You read it. I read your post. It's not worth a response.
cleanhippie
(19,705 posts)Much like the proverbial egg on the face, yours seems to be the only place it's sticking.
Really, rug, if you did not want to have a discussion, why did you post it in the first place? GLAAD didn't post it here, you did.
rug
(82,333 posts)cleanhippie
(19,705 posts)Your hands are covered in it.
laconicsax
(14,860 posts)Sounds like it's time to change your password.
LiberalEsto
(22,845 posts)religious groups to support equal marriage rights.
A number of heterosexual UU couples refuse to marry until the right to marry is extended to LGBT couples.
cleanhippie
(19,705 posts)It's the secular community that is out in front on the issue of gay equality. Were it not for the religious pushback and bigotry, gays may just have equal status as human beings right now.
dmallind
(10,437 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)I have recently run across several organizations from within major denominations that are dedicated to advancing GLBT rights.
This is a key issue for the progressive religious community to champion.
darkstar3
(8,763 posts)Plantaganet
(241 posts)...I think it's more of a bandwagon thing. They're desperately trying to remain relevant.
Bottom line - for 2000 years religion has been pushing homophobia with the most horrible consequences. Spend the next 2000 years undoing the damage and we'll talk.