HRC Blog

Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill Hits Potentially Terminal Road Block

May 12, 2010

According to the New York Times, the life of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill may have reached its end. A special committee organized by the president of Uganda has recommended that the bill be withdrawn from Parliament because “virtually all clauses in the legislation were either unconstitutional or redundant.” While the bill has not yet been formally withdrawn, we look forward to the day when it no longer looms in the Ugandan Parliament.

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Evangelical Lutheran Church Reinstates Two Gay Clergy Members

May 4, 2010

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) announced today that Pastor Bradley Schmelling of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Atlanta, and his partner, Rev. Derin Easler, have been added back to the roster of the denomination’s authorized clergy. So in the words of the old Shaker hymn, things have “come round right”. Pastor Brad became the face of the movement for full inclusion of LGBT clergy in the life of the ELCA when he was removed from the roster after announcing his commitment to Derin several years ago.

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Active Duty Chaplain Shares “Stories from the Frontlines” in Letter to Obama on DADT

April 29, 2010

Coming on the heels of yesterday's announcement of broad support from religious organizations for the repeal of DADT, today's letter comes from a member of the clergy who is being directly impacted by this discriminatory law. SLDN has confirmed the authenticity of this author's identity as an active-duty military chaplain who has just returned from a 15-month deployment in Iraq. Because of his active status, he is currently unable to reveal his identity to the public:

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HRC’s Harry Knox on Anti-LGBT Rhetoric in Uganda

April 27, 2010

Today Harry Knox, Director for HRC’s Religion and Faith Program spoke at public vigil at National City Christian Church in Washington, DC, as part of a group of faith leaders speaking out in support Ugandan lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. He delivered the following inspirational remarks...

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