By a vote of 567 to 41 (with 15 abstentions), the 30th General Synod of the United Church of Christ voted June 30 to adopt the Coalition’s proposed resolution reaffirming protection for LGBTQ Americans and opposing laws that would allow private business owners and public officials to ignore laws protecting LGBTQ persons from discrimination in housing, employment, restaurants and other public accommodations, and adoption services. “Religious exemption” laws have been proposed in 17 states and adopted in three–and more bills are expected when state legislatures convene this fall. The Coalition will support ONA congregations in states where laws that undermine LGBTQ equal rights have been proposed. To learn more, visit this page. For action alerts when these laws are proposed and debated in your state, subscribe to the Coalition’s email newsletter, RIPPLES.

REAFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO FULL EQUALITY FOR PERSONS OF ANY SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR GENDER EXPRESSION

Submitted by the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ
Adopted by the 30^th General Synod of the United Church of Christ, Cleveland, OH, June 30, 2015

Whereas, General Synod and other settings of the United Church of Christ have repeatedly advocated for the equal rights and dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons (LGBT) in the United States and abroad, and

Whereas, the United Church of Christ, in partnership with other churches and faith traditions, has played a key role in the passage of laws protecting the basic civil rights persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, including the right to marry, and

Whereas, a new political movement is advocating in many states for legislation that aims to establish broad “religious exemptions” from existing or future laws protecting the equal rights of persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, and

Whereas, these laws could allow restaurant owners to refuse service to [LGBTQ] customers, landlords to refuse leases to [LGBTQ] tenants, and other forms of discrimination against persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression,

Therefore, be it resolved that the Thirtieth General Synod of the United Church of Christ

reaffirms its commitment to the full legal protection of the civil rights of all persons regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression,

calls upon congregations and all settings of the United Church of Christ to advocate for enactment of local, state and federal laws protecting persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression against discrimination in public accommodations, housing and employment,

calls upon congregations and all settings of the United Church of Christ to advocate on the basis of faith against legislation or executive actions that aim to establish a broad “religious exemption” to existing or future laws protecting the equal rights of persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, and

reaffirms the historic commitment of this church to religious freedom, to the right of all churches and faith communities to maintain and advocate for their own beliefs and practices, and to respectful dialogue within the United Church of Christ and with other faith communities on issues concerning human sexuality, human dignity and marriage.