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