HRC Blog

Recently I have been reflecting on the difference faith communities have made in the momentous movement for marriage equality.  Long before marriage equality became legal in Massachusetts, clergy have been officiating weddings and same-sex couples have been joyously embraced in faith communities. See Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson’s piece on this history.

As I’ve written about previously, the 2012 work on the ballot measures changed the strategies of engagement once and for all. Building on that success, the United for Marriage gathering outside the Supreme Court of the United States took faith mobilizing to another level.

Here are some highlights from those two days that I wanted to share:

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

6 speeches were given by faith leaders

• Rev. Brad Braxton, The Open Church
• Bishop Yvetter Flunder, Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
• Very Rev. Dean Hall, National Cathedral
• The Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Church
• Rev. Dr. Welton Gaddy, Interfaith Alliance
• Rabbi Denis Eger, Congregation Kol Ami

Interfaith service at Lutheran Church of the Reformation

• To receive a copy of an archival “rough” video of the service, please email your mailing/shipping information to Helga Mingion at [email protected]. Please include your: Name, Street Address and City, State Zip

Passover Seder

•   Parting the Water Seder Haggadah

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

6 speeches were given by faith leaders

• Rev. Barry Lynn, Americans United for Separation of Church and State
• Minister Leslie Malachi, African American Religious Affairs
• Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Hip Hop Caucus

Ended with a faith benediction

• Rev. Harry Knox, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights
• Rev. Cindi Love, Soulfource
• Imam Daayiee Abdullah, Muslims for Progressive Values

Faith Benediction

Around the country over hundreds of events occurred on those two days. Of those 169 were organized by faith groups.