Happy Pride Month! As we celebrate the beloved LGBTQ+ community throughout the month of June, the fight for equality is as urgent as ever. Relentless attacks – including from political leaders and Religious Right figures – have denied our LGBTQ+ siblings the rights and freedoms that every American, regardless of background, is guaranteed. But the momentum is on our side, and it’s time for faithful Americans of conscience to seize the narrative. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, we will examine the crucial efforts of faith groups working to advance and protect LGBTQ+ rights.
This year, Interfaith Alliance is proud to spearhead the Faith for Pride initiative, encouraging faith communities to include overt support for LGBTQ+ equality in congregations nationwide. As always, all of our progress wouldn’t be possible without the invaluable support of partner organizations. Shannon Saul of Keshet, an allied organization at the forefront of advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Jewish community, will join Rev. Welton Gaddy, host of State of Belief, to discuss how faith inspires the organization’s activism.
Even as the Religious Right continues their campaign to roll back civil rights, we’ve seen remarkable progress within some faith communities. Increasingly, powerful new voices are emerging at the very top of religious denominations to make the moral argument for equality and inclusivity. This week, we’ll revisit Welton’s 2019 interview with Rev. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay man elected as Bishop in the Episcopal Church.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, religious overtones continue to surface amid Russia’s war of aggression. From the Kremlin to the Orthodox Christian Church, Russian leaders are distorting religious teachings to justify their “holy war.” Katie Kelaidis of Religion Dispatches, who continues to produce excellent reporting on this subject, will check back in with Welton to give us an update.
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