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[NLGTF Press Release, Aug. 24, 1999]
The Roundtable is an interfaith network of leaders from
pro-GLBT faith, spiritual and religious organizations working
in partnership with other justice-seeking groups to amplify the
voice of pro-GLBT faith organizations in public discourse; promote
understanding of and respect for pro-GLBT people with society and
in communities of faith; promote understanding and respect within
GLBT communities for a variety of faith paths and for religious
liberty; and achieve commonly held goals which promote equality,
spirituality and justice.
Roundtable attendees represent hundreds of churches and
synagogues and millions of worshipers. The Roundtable is
co-sponsored by the Policy Institute of the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force and Equal Partners in Faith.
"In recent years, people of faith have served on the front
line against homophobia and paid severe consequences for their
support of GLBT equality," said Urvashi Vaid, director of the Policy
Institute of NGLTF. "From Reverend Jimmy Creech to Sister Jeannine
Gramick to the 68 ministers of the United Methodist Church facing
trial for holding marriage ceremonies, the civil rights movement and
the faith movement are intimately linked. The truth is that a vigorous,
pro-GLBT, faith-based movement exists and is growing stronger."
The public forum, entitled, "Spirituality and Sexuality: In
the Image of God," attracted reporters from The New York Times and
the Associated Press as well as GLBT media and local broadcast and
print media. Also in attendance were representatives of anti-gay
religious right political groups.
The forum featured Rev. Creech, an ordained elder in the
United Methodist Church who was put on trial for holding a covenant
ceremony between two women; Rabbi Stephen Foster, from Denver who was
active in the fight against Amendment 2 in Colorado; Rev. Carlton W.
Veazey, president and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive
Choice and founder of the Religious Coalition's Black Church Initiative;
Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of the GLBT-synagogue Congregation Beth Simchat
Torah based in New York City; Rev. Patti Ackerman of Integrity, an
Episcopalian group; Rev. Elder Nori Rost of the Pikes Peak Metropolitan
Community Church in Colorado Springs; and Rev. Bill Johnson of the
Office of LGB Concerns of the United Church of Christ.
"Religious fundamentalists cannot claim to speak for all
people of faith," said Rev. Ackerman. "Controversy surrounds GLBT
issues precisely because consensus in faith communities does not."
"We as people of faith affirm that standing for GLBT
equality does not conflict with our religious beliefs," said Laura
Montgomery-Rutt, national organizer for Equal Partners in Faith.
"Our voices are growing stronger by the day and will not be silenced."
Monday night's public forum was held in conjunction with the
semi-annual meeting of the National Religious Leadership Roundtable.
The Roundtable includes more than 40 national leaders from a wide
array of faith traditions, including Unitarian Universalist Association
of America, Al-Fatiha Foundation (LGBTQ Muslims & Friends), American
Friends Service Committee, U.S. Urban Rural Mission, World Council of
Churches, Dignity/USA (Catholics), World Congress of Gay, Lesbian and
Bisexual Jewish Organizations, United Methodist Covenant Relationships
Network, The Interfaith Working Group, Reconciling Congregations
Program, Disciples Justice Action Network, Methodist Federation for
Social Action, The Interfaith Alliance, Soulforce, Inc., Unity
Fellowship Church, New Ways Ministry, Integrity (Episcopalian),
Affirmation (United Methodist), The Brethren/Mennonite Council, Gay,
Lesbian and Affirming Disciples Alliance, Inc., Lutherans
Concerned/North America, More Light Presbyterians, Metropolitan
Community Church, AIDS National Interfaith Network, Christians
Lesbians OUT, Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons, Interweave,
Q Spirit, Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, Evangelicals' Concerned,
Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministires and United Church of Christ
Coalition for LGBT Concerns.
Equal Partners in Faith is a multi-racial, multi-faith
national network of religious leaders and people of faith committed
to equality and diversity. Our diverse faith traditions and shared
religious values lead us to affirm and defend the equality of all
people, regardless of religion, race, gender or sexual orientation.
Equal Partners in Faith actively opposes the manipulation of religion
to promote exclusion and inequality.
The Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force is a think-tank dedicated to research, policy analysis, strategy
development and coalition building to advance the equality and
understanding of GLBT people
Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society.
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Websites:
Also In This Issue:
Coming Out as Sacrament in Argentina
God Loves Me and God Knows I'm Gay
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