In response to the Human Rights Campaign’s recent ‘State of Emergency’ declaration for LGBTQ+ people in the United States, we write as clergy and people of faith to urge an end to political, civic, and religious hate speech against the LGBTQ+ community. And we unequivocally and unconditionally affirm and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer members of our communities.

As leaders representing various faith traditions, we stand united in our support of each individual’s human dignity and worth. We stand united in our belief that our LGBTQ+ siblings are beloved and sacred. Each person should feel safe and nurtured in our communities.

Therefore, we denounce the use of political hate speech against the LGBTQ+ community. Hate speech dehumanizes our family members, friends, and neighbors, and too often leads to violence against marginalized communities. We have witnessed a rise in dehumanizing language aimed particularly at the LGBTQ+ community at all levels of government—from the U.S. Congress to local school boards. Such language causes great emotional and psychological harm to the Queer community, particularly to our LGBTQ+ youth. Therefore, we call upon all people to counter messages of hate with messages of love.

We call on our legislators and elected officials at all levels of government to block or oppose anti-LGBTQ+ bills, ordinances, and policies. Currently, more than 550 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in 41 state legislatures, with more expected, including right here in Wisconsin. School boards across the country have enacted anti-LGBTQ+ policies, impacting our Queer youth and their families. Our transgender and non-binary siblings continue to be disproportionately targeted by such actions. Instead, we challenge our political leaders to put forth policies and proposals that celebrate, affirm, and protect LGBTQ+ people.

To the LGBTQ+ community we say: our communities, our cities, our state, and our nation are stronger and more vibrant because of our diversity. No matter your sexual or gender identity, you belong here. As faith leaders, we cannot and will not remain silent in the face of injustice towards our LGBTQ+ neighbors. An attack on you is an attack on us all. We see you. We love you. And we dedicate ourselves to advocating for policies that enable everyone to thrive.

Signatories:

ORGANIZATIONS:

Advent Lutheran of the Madison Christian Community

Bethany United Methodist Church, Madison

Capitol Lakes, Madison

Chequamegon Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Ashland

Christ Presbyterian Church, Madison

Circle Sanctuary, Barneveld

First Baptist Church of Madison

First Congregational United Church of Christ, Madison

First Congregational United Church of Christ, Watertown

First Lutheran Church, Onalaska

First United Methodist Church, Madison

Great Plains Zen Center, Monroe

Interfaith Peace Working Group

Lake Edge UCC, part of Alliance@4200, Madison

Madison Friends Meeting (Quakers)
Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ, Madison

People’s United Methodist Church, Oregon

Plymouth Congregational UCC, Madison

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Madison

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Monona

Sherman Avenue United Methodist Church, Madison

The Crossing Campus Ministry, Madison

The Social Justice Ministry of the First Unitarian Society of Madison

Trinity Lutheran Church, Madison

Underwood Memorial Baptist Church, Wauwatosa

Union Congregational United Church of Christ, Green Bay

United Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Waukesha

Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice

INDIVIDUALS:

Mrs. Jennifer Andersen

Waukesha, WI

Reverend Myoyu Andersen

Monroe, WI

Reverend Kelly Asprooth-Jackson

Madison, WI

Ms. Winnie Bade

Sun Prairie, WI

Dr. Carolina Bailey

Madison, WI

Todd Bailey

Madison, WI

Jennifer Bakke

Watertown, WI

Rabbi Renee Bauer

Madison, WI

Rev. Andrew Bear

Salinas, CA

Reverend Char Bear

Monterey Bay, CA

Reverend Peter Beeson

Madison, WI

Laurel Bentz

Watertown, WI

Ms. Vicki Berenson

Madison, WI

Rabbi Jonathan Biatch

Madison, WI

Mrs. Pamela Blaszak

Watertown, WI

Candace Bloedon

Edgerton, WI

Phillip Bloedon

Edgerton, WI

Rev. Jen Petricca Bloesch

Madison, WI

Reverend Karyn Bodenschatz

Onalaska, WI

Rev. Jake Bradley

Chicago, IL

Rev. Elisa Brandt

Monona, WI

Lynn Breedlove

Belleville, WI

Ms. Valery Brickner

Oregon, WI

Ellen Brown

Watertown, WI

Dr. Eugenia Sherman Brown

Madison, WI

Rhonda Bryhn

LaCrosse, WI

Reverend Dr. Julia Burkey

Madison, WI

David Canon

Madison, WI

Sarah Canon

Madison, WI

Rev. Dr. Dennis D. Carpenter

Barneveld, WI

Samuel Christensen

Madison, WI

Rev. Alison Cline

Colorado Springs, CO

Mr. John Cocalis

Fitchburg, WI

Ms. Vicki Cocalis

Fitchburg, WI

Prof. Charles Cohen

Madison, WI

Dr. George Corliss

Waukesha, WI

Rev. Stacy Craig

Ashland, WI

Reverend Kelly  Crocker

Madison, WI

Rev. Guta Cvetkovic

Madison, WI

David Dahl

Madison, WI

Mr. Robert DeFrank

Oak Creek, WI

Ms. Barbara Deichl

Waukesha, WI

Denyce Derleth

Watertown, WI

Tom Derleth

Watertown, WI

Mrs. Laura Dralle

Wales, WI

Rev. Dianne Duggan

Evansville, WI

Rev. Messina Duggan

Evansville, WI

George Dunst

Madison, WI

Regina Dunst

Madison, WI

Pat Eddings

Middleton, WI

Juanita Edington

Watertown, WI

Stephanie Edwards

Madison, WI

Avis Elson

Madison, WI

Reverend Larry Engel

Richland Center, WI

Ms. Carol Faynik

Madison, WI

Reverend Rebecka Fetters

Waukesha, WI

Dr. Jerry Folk

Madison, WI

Rabbi Betsy Forester

Madison, WI

Rev. Selena Fox

Barneveld, WI

Jesse Fremont

Watertown, WI

Saedra Fremont

Watertown, WI

Ms. Karen Garlock

Madison, WI

Rev. Laura Gonzalez

Chicago, IL

Reverend Reirin Gumbel

Milwaukee, WI

Alan Green

Madison, WI

Katie Green

Madison, WI

Ms. Wendy Haas

Nashota, WI

Mr. John Hagen

Monroe, WI

Rev. Susan Haller

Milwaukee, WI

Dr. Kristi Halverson

Madison, WI

Reverend Nancy Hanson

Washburn, WI

The Rev. Dr. Paula Harris

Janesville, WI

Reverend David Hart

Madison, WI

Rev. Phil Haslanger

Fitchburg, WI

Rev. Nansi Hawkins

Oconomowoc, WI

Rev. Richard Hawkins

Oconomowoc, WI

Reverend Eldonna Hazen

Madison, WI

Mr. John Heaton

Madison, WI

Mr. Richard Henderson

Madison, WI

Kathy Henning

Middleton, WI

Pastor Larry Henning

Middleton, WI

Vivian Howard

Watertown, WI

Rev. Libby Howe

Onalaska, WI

Ms. Birgitta Hietala

Delafield, WI

Barbara Hoffman

Madison, WI

Rita Honnold

Madison, WI

Beth Inglis

Mazomanie, WI

Julie James

Madison, WI

Benjamin Jolinson

Madison, WI

Robin Kangas

Watertown, WI

Kaylee Kauffman

Madison, WI

Sonja Keesey-Berg

Madison, WI

Robin Kelby

Verona, WI

Rev. Grace Kilpatrick

Madison, WI

JoAnn Kolatth

Madison, WI

Diane Koch

Watertown, WI

Mr. Ron Konkol

Madison, WI

Reverend David Kraemer

Waukesha, WI

Sarah Kruger

Verona, WI

Ms. Helen LaBorde

Brodhead, WI

Rev. Marina Lachecki

Ashland, WI

Jocelyn Langholz

Ashland, WI

Rev. Paul Larson

Chicago, IL

Barbara Lottmann

Watertown, WI

Rev. Suzelle Lynch

Janesville, WI

Reverend Jason Mack

Madison, WI

Josie Mack

Watertown, WI

Rabbi Bonnie Margulis

Madison, WI

Ms. Carol Martell

Madison, WI

Mr. Stuart Martell

Madison, WI

Dr. Pamela Martin

Watertown, WI

Roger Martin

Watertown, WI

Ruth Martin

Watertown, WI

Marjorie Matthews

Madison, WI

Melissa Mattke

Watertown, WI

Evelyn Mazak

Belleville, WI

Sister Maureen McDonnell

Madison, WI

Chris McGaff

LaCrosse, WI

Dr. Robert McGaff

LaCrosse, WI

Hildy McGown

Madison, WI

Myrna McNatt

Middleton, WI

Kate Micklo

Madison, WI

Dr. Robert Moore

Madison, WI

Bill Moorman

Madison, WI

Jane Moorman

Madison, WI

Ms. Miriam Mueller-Owens

Madison, WI

Ms. Andrea Nelson

Onalaska, WI

Mr. Rob Nelson

Onalaska, WI

Xuan Nguyen

Fitchburg, WI

Ms. Dyan Pasono

Watertown, WI

Rev. Dr. Jessica Patchett

Madison, WI

Reverend Kenneth Pennings

Madison, WI

Ms. Lyn Pilch

Madison, WI

Ms. Elissa Pollack

Madison, WI

Rev. Jason Poole-Xiong

Madison, WI

Emi Reiner

Madison, WI

Mr. Brian Renkas

Holmen, WI

Ms. Megan Richason

Onalaska, WI

Jing Ries

Madison, WI

Mike Reis

Madison, WI

Reverend Mark S. Ricker

Ashland, WI

Jan Robertson

Madison, WI

Rev. Dr. Christopher Ross

Watertown, WI

Tom Rusch

Watertown, WI

Rev. David C. Sassman

Indianapolis, IN

Arianna Saykally-McAdams

Winona, MN

Joe Scarry

Madison, WI

Reverend Tim Schaefer

Madison, WI

Reverend Leslie Schenk

Madison, WI

Diane Scheunemann

Watertown, WI

Kristi Scheunemann

Watertown, WI

Rev. Karla Schmidt

Oregon, WI

Mrs. Nancy Schultz

Wales, WI

Rheda Schultz

Madison, WI

Karen Schwarz

Madison, WI

Sister Marie Seckar

Madison, WI

Ms. Rebecca Seevers

Waukesha, WI

Rev. Larry Sexe

Deerfield, WI

Pastor Rachel Sieja

Ashland, WI

Ms. Debbie Simon

Madison, WI

Rev. Lori Shinko Snyder

Oak Park, IL

Ms. Laura Stalder

Madison, WI

Vicar Vica-Etta   Steel

Madison, WI

Ms. Shari Stephenson

Madison, WI

Rev. Sharon Stewart

Brooklyn, WI

Ms. Mary Strait

Fitchburg, WI

Dan Streit

Madison, WI

Jen Streit

Madison, WI

JoAnne Streit

Madison, WI

Megan Streit

Madison, WI

Mr. Ralph Stukel

Waukesha, WI

Ms. Kathleen Theis

Wales, WI

Kim Todd

Fitchburg, WI

Dorothea Torstenson

Madison, WI

Nancy Tubesing

Middleton, WI

Reverend Gayle Tucker

Madison, WI

Reverend Andy Twiton

Madison, WI

The Rev. Nick Utphall

Madison, WI

Linda Voit

Madison, WI

Carol Walker

Madison, WI

Reverend Cathy Weigand

Madison, WI

Reverend Mike Weigand

Madison, WI

Rebecca Weise

Madison, WI

Barbara Weiss

Watertown, WI

Charles Weiss

Watertown, WI

Ms. Caroline Werner

Oregon, WI

Katherine Wildman

Madison, WI

Martha Wildman

Madison, WI

Reverend Julie Wilson

Madison, WI

Lindy Wilson

Cross Plains, WI

Reverend Mallory Yanchus

Madison, WI

Reverend Laura Yurs

Cottage Grove, WI

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