J. Herbert Nelson Speaks Out Against Discrimination

Earlier today, Office of Public Witness Director, J. Herbert Nelson, published an editorial, Discrimination in the Name of Jesus: How “religious liberty” is becoming Discrimination by Another Name, that he co-authored with the Reverend James C. Perkins, President-elect of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, founded in 1961 to advance Rev. Martin Luther King’s vision for civil rights. 

Tomorrow, Mississippi will vote on legislation similar to the bill vetoed by Governor Jan Brewer in Arizona and abandoned in other states. This law would allow businesses to discriminate against the gay community and others on the basis of religion. You can read more about this here.

Read Reverends Nelson and Perkins’ editorial on the subject here.

The voices of Christian leaders are needed to send a strong message that discrimination is unacceptable under the guise of religious liberty.

If you would like to raise your voice to counter this campaign of religion-justified discrimination, please join our partners by adding your name to this letter: http://tinyurl.com/ClergyAgainstDiscrimination

The letter concludes, “when we seek to codify legislation that discriminates against any class of people—no matter our diverse theological beliefs about marriage—we tarnish the treasure of religious freedom and the highest ideals of our democracy. Most of all, we are complicit in violating the Golden Rule that unites us as Christians—to love God and our neighbor as we love ourselves.”

Interfaith Call-in Day to End Employment Discrimination

www.faithscalling.org
1-888-897-0174
Text “FaithsCalling” to 877-877 

or sign up on the website

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17  

INTERFAITH CALL-IN DAY TO END EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION

Call your Senators and insist that they act to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and put an end to anti-LGBT workplace discrimination.

ENDA is a common-sense solution that will prohibit discrimination against LGBT people in the workplace.

o   In 29 states, it remains legal to fire, refuse to hire, or fail to promote an employee based on sexual orientation

o   In 33 states, it remains legal to fire, refuse to hire, or fail to promote an employee based on gender identity

When you are connected to your Senator, remind them of some of the key talking points below:

o   ENDA ensures that all people are measured based on their qualifications for a job and the work they perform – it does not create “special rights”

o   ENDA makes good business sense and helps build a stronger, protected workforce - 88% of Fortune 500 companies already have policies prohibiting discrimination against gay and lesbian employees, and 57% protect transgender employees

o   ENDA conforms to our core religious belief that everyone is created in the image of God and to our fundamental American ideals of equality – more than 73% of Americans support such legislation

o   ENDA contains a broad religious exemption – concerns about religious freedom should not prevent support of this legislation

What does the General Assembly say on this issue?

o   The 214^th General Assembly (2002) called upon Presbyterians to work for the passage of laws that prohibit discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations based on the sexual orientation of a person.

When you call your Senators, let them know that you are calling as a member of the faith community and that you support ending discrimination against LGBT workers.