In January 2021 Inclusive Justice, a statewide coalition of faith and community leaders advocating for LGBTQ equality, announced that 200 religious leaders, from Detroit to Marquette, added their names to a statement calling on Michigan’s elected officials to pass comprehensive federal and statewide LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections.
Statement: Michigan Faith Leaders Against Discrimination
As faith leaders, we believe we must do everything in our power to make sure that Michigan is a safe place to live, work, and raise a family for all people, including members of the LGBTQ community. That’s why we are calling on our elected leaders to pass comprehensive nondiscrimination protections, updating our state’s existing laws to protect LGBTQ Michiganders from discrimination in employment, housing, and public spaces.
LGBTQ people are our friends, neighbors, family and coworkers. We are all God’s children and we all deserve to go about our daily lives without the fear of discrimination. But right now, Michigan’s lack of comprehensive protections leave LGBTQ people in our state vulnerable to discrimination. We recognize the harm caused to our community by this lack of protections ensuring that no one is fired from a job, denied housing, or refused service simply because of who they are or who they love.
Despite our diversity of faith traditions and backgrounds, we share the fundamental belief that we are all called to treat others with the respect we desire for ourselves. We encourage our fellow clergy, our elected officials, and indeed all people of faith to join us in this public commitment to equality, respect and justice for all by supporting full LGBTQ protections.
Voices of Michigan Faith Leaders
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“I am honored to see my name alongside faith leaders I admire from every corner of the state, because it is well past time for Michigan to be a place where everyone can thrive, no matter who they are. This letter is a commitment from all of us to keep pushing forward for LGBTQ freedom and dignity, and change is possible in 2021.” |
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“Religious support of nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people demonstrates that religious and civil liberties are not contradictory forces. The lack of protections causes harm to our LGBTQ neighbors. Legislators must have the moral imperative to protect and uphold the sacred dignity and worth of all Michiganders.” |
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“I am joining a chorus of diverse faith voices united by the fundamental belief that all human beings are created b’tzelem Elohim, in the Divine image. That is why we must treat all God’s children with the same respect that we desire for ourselves.” |
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“I’m proud to join more than 170 faith leaders across Michigan in signing onto a new letter calling for LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination protections. We need to be sending a unified message to our elected officials that no one should face mistreatment because of who they are.” |
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All Signers: Michigan Faith Leaders Against Discrimination
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Rev. Jennifer Adams Rabbi Sara Adler Hattie Alexander-Key Rabbi Alana Alpert Mair Alsgaard Rev. Neal Anderson Rev. Lindsey Anderson Dr. Krista Anderson Margo Atwell Rev. Rachel Bahr Dr. Norma Bailey Rev. Dr. Diane Baker Rev. Brad Bartelmay John Baumgartner Rev. Mandy Beal Joshua Berg Rev. Nicolas Berlanga Deacon Ethan Best Roberta Betts Rayna Bick Rebecca Bierma Rabbi Amy Bigman Randy Block Rev. Matthew Bode Rev. Jeremy Bork Rev. Adrain Bowie Harold E. Bragg Rev. Julie Brock Sr Susan Brooks Sehoy Brown Rev. Sarah Van Zetten Bruins Vicki Buckner Leonetta Bugleisi Wayne Burling Rabbi Nadav Caine Rev. Dr. Katherine Carlson Rev. Elizabeth Carroll Rev. Dr. Walter Cheeks Emmy Lou Cholak Rev. Alex Clark Jill Conrad Rev. Julie Cowie Rev. Deborah Cox Rabbi Yoni Dahlen Rev. Dr. William Danaher Rev. Nathan Dannison Mary De Ridder Rabbi Nate DeGroot Deacon Karen Dillaman Rev. Tania Dozeman Barbara Eglinton Miriam Epskamp Rabbi Jeffrey Falick Rev. Ruth Fitzgerald Natalie Fitzpatrick Ann-Patrice Foley Rev. Tom Fox Deacon Michelle Fox-Phillips Rev. Andrew Frantz Kim French Rev. Sara Freudenburg Rev. Elizabeth Friedman Rev. Dan Furman Nancy Gilpin W Clark Gilpin Rabbi Moshe Givental Rev. Susan Greenwood Rev Dr Lorraine Grinnell Rev. Dr. Andrew Guffey Pastor Roger Harms Rev. Dr. Cathy Harrington Rev. James Harrison Rev. Cassandra Hartley Rev. Laurie Hartzell Beverly Hawkes Rev. Ruth Hawley-Lowry Dr. MaryAnn Hergenrother Rev. Robert A Higle Rev. Ken Hitch Rev. Jacqueline Holdsworth Rev. Jeffrey Hubers Barb Iovan Rev. Dr. Wes Jamison Corinna Johnson Rev. Dr. Jay Johnson Linda Karle-Nelson Sandra Karolak Rev. Jerry Kerr Rabbi Joe Klein Elizabeth Knight Dr. Joseph Kuilema Bethany La Fleur Pastor Liz Larrivee Katharine Lion Rev. Rachel Lonberg Rabbi Asher Lopatin |
Rev. Vicky Lovell Rev. Gy Ludvig-McCartney Deacon Christopher Mann Rev. Andrea Martin Rev. Dr. Pastor Selma Massey Deacon Paul Mattson Eleanore Maurer Rev. Steph Maxson Vicki McGaffigan Audrey McMullen Rev. Dr. Donna McNiel Rev. Dr. Scott Miller Rabbi Jason Miller Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti Paul Mitchell Rich Mitterling Rev. Carolyn Mobley-Bowie Dr. Christine Modey Rev. Dr. Sid Mohn Jim Moir Peter Moore Rabbi Michael Moskowitz Rev. Mike Mulberry Dr. Linda Naranjo-Huebl Thomas Nelson Rev. Dr. Julie Nemecek Rev. Kim Newport DK Nilan Rabbi Ora Nitkin-Kaner Kim Nowack Cynthia Omans Rev. Louise Ott Rev. Roger Pancost Dr. Joan Parker Josh Parks Tami Parks Rev. Rich Peacock Bishop Bonnie A. Perry Mark Petrie Karen Prins Ms. Joan Ramsay Kathleen Reid Faith Robinson Renner Vicki Ricca Rev. Jonathan Riedel Jennifer Ringgold Pastor Jessica Rivera-Walker Rev. Christopher Roe Rev. Melissa Anne Rogers Rev. Dr. Bruce Roller George Rourk Pastor Ed Rowe Jennifer Russell Rev. Jill Russsell Patrick Sanders Jacilyn Sanders Rev. Salvatore Sapienza Rabbi Simone Schicker Pastor Robert Schmidt Rev. Sarah Schmidt-Lee Rev. Robert Schoenhals Jane Schuyler Rabbi Daniel Schwartz Rev. Eric Severson Cindy Short Kathy M Silver Rev. Dr. Gail Simonds Laverne Simpson Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg Loretta Smith Pastor Marcelle Smith Roland Smith Rev. Dr. Timothy Spannaus Rev. Lynette Sparks Rev. Colleen Squires Rev. LuAnne Stanley Hook Rabbi Aaron Starr Barbara Stevenson Rev. Linda Stoner Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow Rev. Joseph Summers Carol Tanis Candi Tomlinson Jim Toy Rabbi Jenna Turow Gloria Tweadey Rev. Todd Van Grouw Rev. Paul Van Kempen Rev. Kelly VanBrouwer James VanderMolen Peter VanDessel Pastor Danielle Veenstra Ann Weller Rev. Mike Wernick Rev. Dr. David Wheeler Professor Mike Whitty Rev. Dr. Gordon Wiersma Rev. Eric Williams Rev. Bethany Joy Winn Rabbi Ari Witkin Rev. Dr. Weldon Frederick Wooden Rabbi Paul Yedwab Rabbi Jeremy Yoskowitz |