To the Editor:
Today, we rejoice in the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the federal right of same sex partners to legal marriage in the cases of Obergefell v. Hodges, Tanco v. Haslam, DeBoer v. Snyder, Bourke v. Beshear. We give thanks for the discernment shown by the Justices on this issue and their standing on the side of love. We give thanks that today, for the first time in our nation’s history, the marriages of same sex couples will be legally permitted and legally recognized in all 50 states.
As people of faith, we stand together in the belief that all persons, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, deserve the civil and human rights recognizing their marriage covenant. We stand together in love and support for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) communities at this momentous time.
However, we must also acknowledge that the struggle for full rights under the law for LGBTQ people is not over. While marriage is now legal for all, LGBTQ civil rights, property rights, and anti-discrimination protection especially for LGBT youth continue to be issues that deserve our attention and our prayers.
We remain together, a diverse community of people of faith, working for the continued progress towards full justice for the LGBTQ communities. And we will remain committed to stand together until our goal is achieved, witnessing each in our own way as we honor our belief that our creator made us in love and created us to love and to be loved.
Blessed be. Toda elohim. Namaste. Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Signatories: 47 Northern Virginia clergy and faith leaders
Rabbi Joshua Ackerman, Arlington
Rev. Marty Anderson, Commonwealth Baptist Church, Alexandria
Rev. Robin Anderson, Commonwealth Baptist Church, Alexandria
Rev. Allie Rosner Bass, Arlington Temple United Methodist Church, Arlington
Rabbi Lia Bass, Arlington
Rev. Joan Bell-Haynes, United Christian Parish, Reston
The Rev. Jo J. Belser, Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Alexandria
Rev. Jeanne Brenneis, Arlington
Rev. Jennifer Brooks, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, Oakton
Rev. Susan Browning
Rev. Madelyn Campbell, Arlington VA
The Rev. Sharon K. Core, Arlington Presbyterian Church, Arlington
The Rev. David M. Crosby, Alexandria
Rev. Kristen Curlee, Bethel United Church of Christ, Arlington
Cynthia Dahlin, Seekers Church, Arlington
Rev. Dr. David Ensign, Clarendon Presbyterian Church, Arlington
Rev. Henry E. “Hank” Fairman, Little River United Church of Christ, Annandale
The Rev. Nancy Fitzgerald, Arlington Church of the Brethren, Arlington
Elizabeth Fogarty, POFEV-Northern Virginia Network, Arlington
Rev. Dr. Jerrold L. Foltz, Wellspring United Church of Christ, Centreville
The Rev. Leslie J. Hague, Arlington
Rev Trish Hall, Center for Spiritual Living - Metro, Arlington
Rev. Russell Heiland, Unity of Fairfax, Oakton
Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, Oakton
The Rev. Phyllis Hubbell, Loudoun County
Rev. Stephen Hyde, Ravensworth Baptist Church, Annandale
Cantor Jason Kaufman, Beth El Hebrew Congregation, Alexandria
Rev. Jeanette Leisk, Alexandria
Rev. Dr. David B. Lindsey, Little River United Church of Christ, Annandale
Rev. Janet Parsons Mackey, Annandale
The Rev. John Manwell, Loudoun County
Rev. Aaron McEmrys, Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington
Rev. Scott McNeill, Bull Run Unitarian Universalists, Manassas
Kim Moeller, POFEV-Northern Virginia Network, Leesburg
Rev. Amber Henry Neuroth, Hope United Church of Christ, Alexandria
Rev. Dr. Linda Olson Peebles, Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington
Rev. Ron Rising, Emmaus United Church of Christ, Vienna
Rev. Dr. Lisa Rzepka, John Calvin Presbyterian Church, Annandale
Rev. John Shellito, St. George's Episcopal Church, Arlington
Rev. Leslie Nunez Steffensen, Grace Episcopal Church, Alexandria
Rev. Dr. Danny Spears, MCC Northern Virginia, Fairfax
Rev. Mark J Suriano, Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ, Arlington Jason Thompson, Bethel United Church of Christ, Arlington
Shelly Thompson, Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington
The Rev. Heather VanDeventer, Alexandria
Rev. Rob Vaughn, Herndon
The Very Rev. Shearon Sykes Williams, Saint George's Episcopal Church, Arlington