CLGS

As of this release, a small majority of California voters have voted to pass a constitutional amendment removing the right of same-sex couples to marry in the state. Although legal challenges are forthcoming, the following statement from Pacific School of Religion condemns this controversial and divisive vote.

BERKELEY, CA – Pacific School of Religion (PSR) denounces the vote for Proposition 8, which denies the full equality of same-sex couples under the law and writes discrimination into the California state constitution.

"We are deeply saddened by the blow to equality and human dignity this vote represents," said Bill McKinney, president of PSR. "Whatever the final legal outcome, approximately half of California voters have judged their neighbors' marriages to be invalid, a troubling development for the institution of marriage and the fabric of the family."

Mary A. Tolbert, executive director of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry at PSR said, "This is a sad day for people of all faiths as well as for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens of California. Fear tactics and bigotry have won out over the Christian admonition to ‘love your neighbor.'"

Leaders at PSR acknowledged that legal challenges to the vote will continue, as well as attempts to nullify the 18,000 marriages that took place after the Supreme Court's decision in June.

Tolbert said, "Such an attack on couples that have declared their love and dedication to each other cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged. The battle over equal marriage rights in California is far from over."

McKinney added, "Dr. King reminded us that the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice. A small majority of voters in California may have given in to fear and prejudice, but justice will have the final word."

PSR encourages all faith communities to continue to work to affirm the civil rights of all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.

"There's a critical difference between marriage as a civil contract and marriage as a religious covenant," Tolbert said. "Every faith community, regardless of stance on religious recognition of same-sex relationships, has a stake in securing equal access to the benefits of this civil contract. California should not tolerate second-class status for any of its citizens. Neither should people of faith."

"Ultimately, it's a question of equal rights, not religion," McKinney said.

The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry provides training and education to help faith communities that work for full inclusion of same-sex couples in religious celebrations of marriage. A number of faith traditions currently bless same-sex relationships, including Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism, the Unitarian Universalist Association, and the Christian denominations of the United Church of Christ, the Metropolitan Community Churches, some congregations of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), some Episcopal churches, and some Baptist churches. The web-based CLGS Marriage Project (www.clgs.org/marriage) is designed to assist religious communities in these important efforts.

Members of the CLGS staff are available for media interviews on same-sex marriage and a variety of other topics related to sexuality and religion.

Founded in 2000, the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry at Pacific School of Religion is the first seminary-based center for the study of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues. The Center works to transform faith communities and the wider society by taking a leading role in shaping a new public discourse on religion and sexuality through education, research, community building, and advocacy. Visit the Center's Web site at www.clgs.org or call 510-849-8206. For more on Pacific School of Religion, see www.psr.edu.