We write to you this week to encourage your opposition to bills in both the House of Delegates and the Senate that, in denying full and equal rights and protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Virginians, violate the deeply held convictions of our various faith traditions.
Our faiths call us to work for justice, and to have particular concern for those who are marginalized. Non-discrimination policies give this deeply held faith conviction practical expression with the force of civil law. Thus we strongly encourage you to work for the defeat of HB 1667.
Our faiths call us to celebrate love and commitment, and we hold love and faithfulness as central values of our traditions. Thus it is no surprise that many of us celebrate the commitments of loving people in marriage. We also hold fiercely to our freedom to worship as we feel called, and we both respect and appreciate that freedom as it applies to faith leaders of all communities, including those who choose not to solemnize same gender weddings. Current law is clear in protecting this religious freedom, and both HB 2025 and SB 1324 are unnecessary. Moreover, they confuse free exercise of religious faith expressed in worship with discrimination in public accommodations. Thus we strongly encourage you to work for their defeat.
Our faiths call us to treat others as we, ourselves, would like to be treated. Each of the world’s great religious traditions includes some variation on this golden rule, but laws that force transgender persons to use restrooms inconsistent with their gender identity violates this basic principle of love and respect. Thus we write also to express our gratitude for your work in defeating HB 1612 in subcommittee last week.
We stand with Virginians who have, for too long, been victims of discrimination and, too often, victims of violence simply because they happen to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. We call on you to stand with us. We believe that each of us bears within that which is holy and deserving of respect and love. Out of these deeply held religious convictions, we stand on the side of love and invite you to stand with us.
The following Arlingtonian clergy members were among the 100 signatures of this letter:
Rev. Dr. David Ensign
Clarendon Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dr. Kathryn N. Dwyer
Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Laura Martin
Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Allie Rosner Bass
Arlington Temple United Methodist Church
Rev. Nancy Fitzgerald
Arlington Church of the Brethren
Rev. Aaron McEmrys
Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington
Rev. Dr. Linda Olson Peebles
Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington
Rabbi Lia Bass
Congregation Etz Hayim
Rev. Dr. Margaret True
Clarendon Presbyterian Church
Rabbi Gilah Langner
Kol Ami: Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community
Rev. Trish Hall
Rev. Patricia Barth
Bethel United Church of Christ
The Rev. John Shellito
Arlington
Rev. Alice Rose Tewell
Arlington
Rev. Sue Browning
Arlington
Rev. Scott Ramsey
Arlington