This is a letter I submitted to the Denver Interfaith Alliance to show my support of the efforts to combat the expected Presidential order on "Religious Liberty" that is a thinly-veiled attack on LGBTQ rights:
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For far too long, the loudest
voice from the religious community in regards to LGBTQ men and women has been
that of condemnation and denunciation.
This needs to change.
For far too long, men and women who
identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, transgender or questioning have been
ostracized, targeted and subject to discrimination and violence because of who
they love and how they love.
This needs to change as well.
In my congregation, in my
community, in my family there are many Gay and Lesbian couples who are in
long-term, healthy relationships. I know many men and women who are
raising wonderful, well-adjusted children in homes where there are either two
mothers or two fathers. That they have recently been able to legally
recognize and sanctify their relationships under the covenant of marriage is an
important right that cannot be taken away.
As a Rabbi – as a person of
faith - I believe that the most important verse in the Bible can be found in
Genesis 1:27. There we find it written that God created Humanity in the
Divine Image.
- We are the image of God.
- We are all holy creatures.
- God created us.
- God loves us.
I believe that it is essential
for religious communities to become involved in the struggle for LGBTQ
rights. For if we stand idly by and do nothing when basic human rights
are denied:
- The
right to legal protection for families
- The
right to job security.
- The
right to housing;
- The
right to live free from fear.
- The
right to ensure that we can carry out the wishes of our spouses and
partners when they become incapacitated;
- The
right to visit our loved ones when they are in the hospital;
- the
right to insurance;
- and so
many others…..
...then we are denying the holiness
implanted not only within our brothers and sisters – but within ourselves as
well. Silence is complicity.
