Every June, the LGBTQ+ community and their allies come together to celebrate Pride Month, a month dedicated to uplifting LGBTQ+ culture and support of LGBTQ+ rights. It is a month full of parades, performances, and protests, recognizing how far we have come for equality and how far we have yet to go.
LGBTQ+ Equality is a Matter of Religious Freedom
Our country is founded on the idea that all are created equal — a value shared across faith traditions and philosophies. Interfaith Alliance celebrates the inherent dignity and worth of all people, including many beloved LGBTQ+ members of our faith communities.
But a small group of religious conservatives are working to distort the meaning of religious freedom to include the right to discriminate against those who identify or believe differently than they do. This is a radical departure from the established meaning of the First Amendment – and one that continues to cause harm in the name of faith. Now more than ever, it is essential that people of faith and faith communities take action against harmful narratives and legislation.
Faith Communities Must Speak Out for Equality
That Pride Month, Interfaith Alliance and the Faith for Equality Coalition are calling supporters to participate in Faith for Pride: a month-long effort to include the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in religious services and programs. The Faith for Equality coalition is comprised of 120+ religious groups that support LGBTQ+ equality. The goal of this campaign is to demonstrate that people of faith support federal non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people and support the passing the Equality Act.
Taking Action for LGBTQ+ Equality
The Equality Act is a bill that strengthens existing civil rights laws and provides consistent non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people nationwide. These protections apply to employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, jury service, and federally funded programs.
The bill ensures that LGBTQ+ people – including religious and non-religiously affiliated people – enjoy the same freedoms under the law as all Americans. This bill does not require any person to change their religious beliefs nor does it compel religious institutions to participate in activities that violate the tenets of their faith.
Building a Better Future, Together
Across traditions, we are united by the belief that every human being is sacred. We strengthen our moral foundation by advancing policies that affirm our shared humanity and ensure that all people are treated equally under the law.
This Pride month, join Interfaith Alliance and raise your voice as part of the faithful majority. With your support and activism, we can continue to champion civil rights measures that benefit us all and beat back laws that enable discrimination under the guise of religious liberty.
Learn more about Interfaith Alliance’s efforts to promote LGBTQ+ equality.