Religious leaders gather in support of civil marriage for gays and lesbians

Rabbi Devon Lerner

Rev. Bill Sinkford

Rabbi Ronne Friedman

Rev. Anne Fowler

Religious Leaders Call for Support of Civil Marriage for Gays and Lesbians

Leaders Speak from Channing's Pulpit to Call for Equality

(Boston, June 5, 2003) Speaking from the pulpit where Massachusetts leaders debated the US Bill of Rights and voted to ratify the US Constitution, a group of religious leaders came together today to call for civil marriage rights for committed gay and lesbian couples in Massachusetts.

Rabbi Devon Lerner, co-chair of the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry, introduced the press conference held at UUA headquarters, saying, [RCFM is] "a group of more than 450 clergy from over a dozen different faith traditions. While we honor every religious community's right to determine the definition of a religious marriage, we also believe in the inherent right of gay and lesbian couples to be given the rights, protections and legal responsibilities under the law."

Joining Rabbi Lerner as speakers at the press conference were the Rev. William G. Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association; Rabbi Ronne Friedman, Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel in Boston ; and the Rev. Anne Fowler, Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Jamaica Plain . Nearly twenty clergy supporting freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples stood in back of the speakers as they made their statements.

"The citizens and our legislators on Beacon Hill need to know that there are religious people who support the right to marry for same-sex couples," said Sinkford. "Unitarian Universalist ministers have performed religious ceremonies of union for gay and lesbian couples for more than twenty years, and in 1996 the UUA passed a resolution calling for the legalization of same-sex marriage." Sinkford also noted, "My second point concerns religious liberty and the separationof church and state. In our society, here in Massachusetts and in the rest of this great nation, religious pluralism is a reality. The task of our government and elected representatives is not to enshrine the religious point of view of any one faith in our laws; ...it is to dedicate itself to protecting the rights of all citizens."

The Rev. Fowler said that in supporting civil marriage for gays and lesbians, "I believe we are working for God's promise of freedom and justice for all. No longer must our lesbian and gay sisters and brothers be forced to demonstrate why they should be allowed to marry...this is a justice issue, a matter of equality."

Rabbi Friedman said, "We have come together today not to assert what is, but what ought to be. We insist that the Catholic criteria for marriage not be imposed on civil society. The Catholic Church's history is full of efforts to say this is God's will...but we believe in a loving God, and we affirm that gays and lesbians have a right to our blessings as well."

The Rev. Dr. Nancy Taylor, president of the Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ , was not able to be at the press conference due to a last-minute scheduling conflict, but had sent a letter to every Massachusetts legislator this week, saying, "The Catholic Church has every right to try and enforce its teachings among its own members, but we believe the question before the legislators must be argued and decided on the grounds of civil rights, not Catholic, or any other religious doctrine. Gay families are part of the demographic landscape of the Commonwealth. As citizens they deserve the same rights, liberties, and protections afforded straight families."

A civil suit filed on behalf of seven plaintiff couples by Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) is expected to be decided by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, perhaps this month. The case seeks civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples in Massachusetts.

Over one hundred Massachusetts UU clergy and congregations have signed the Massachusetts Declaration of Religious Support for the Freedom of Same-Gender Couples to Marry ; a growing number of UU ministers have also declared their intention not to sign marriage licenses until same-gender couples have the right to marry.

Watch the press conference

Background information on this story:

• Unitarian Universalists Join Landmark Suit Seeking Same Sex Civil Marriage Rights in Massachusetts (April 13, 2001)
• Supporting Freedom to Marry for All People (February 12, 2003)
• Four UU-connected couples join in seeking legal marriage from state's highest court (March 5, 2003)

Sermons and Newsletter Articles:

• OPEN WEDDING HOMILY, 1996, The Rev. Ruth Gibson
• From “U-First: The Newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Gardner,” October, 2003, The Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Landrum
• "By The Power Vested In Me, I Now Pronounce…" by Don Southworth (Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, September 28, 2003)

Media coverage:

• Bay Windows (September 4, 2003,"Religious Leaders Speak Out," by Ethan Jacobs)
• Providence Journal (Rhode Island) (August 28, 2003, "Try Straight Guys for Gay Marriage," by the Rev. Richelle Russell, First Unitarian Church of Providence) (This story requires free registration.)
• NewsObserver.com (North Carolina) (July 27, 2003 "A License to Marry")
• Boston Phoenix (July, 9, 2003, "Remedying Injustice")
• Bay Windows (July 9, "UUA gathers in Boston: Gay-friendly denomination holds national assembly in the Hub" by Ethan Jacobs)
• In News Weekly (June 19, "Religious voices volley over marriage for gays")
• The Advocate (June 10, "Coalition of clergy backs gay marriage in Massachusetts")
• The Associated Press also released a story on the press conference and related activities. It ran in The Concord (NH) Monitor and other papers. (June 10)
• Boston Globe (June 8, "Here come the brides" by E.J. Graff)
• Boston Globe (June 7, "3 Episcopal bishops rap marriage bill")
• Boston Globe (June 7, "Religion a force in gay marriage debate" by Rich Barlow)
• The Republican (June 6, "Church position draws response" by Bill Zajac)
• Boston Herald (June 6, "Clergy back marriage for gays" by Steve Marantz)
• Boston Globe (June 6, "Clergy coalition offers support for same-sex marriages" by Nicholas Zamiska)

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