Living every day not only as a Black queer man but Black queer clergy is one reason I fight for the Equality Act. Every American — except women, enslaved Black people, and other non-White people — was promised the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Some of those denied were most likely LGBTQIA+ Americans.
Denying LGBTQ+ Americans equality is one way our nation has failed to live up to that promise. Speaking of inequality, this future faith leader sat in the sanctuary of a homophobic downstate Illinois conservative evangelical church listening to sermons that claimed that LGBTQ+ people were no children of God.
Although that church pushed the boys to become ministers, my pastor didn’t call me to the ministry at age 6, while walking to the altar. God did. She called me to the ministry again at age 36, when I was finally convinced that God still considered me a loved and valued Child of God — a loved and valued queer child of God. In other words, I was equal to every other child of God. Sending the message that all children of God — no matter how they identify — are equally loved is the central focus of my ministry.
Fighting to make sure that LGBTQ+ Americans are afforded the same rights as every other American is one way I choose to send that message.
That is why I staunchly support the Equality Act. As a faith leader and theologian, I believe in religious freedom. The Equality Act endangers no one’s religious freedom. It retains the religious exemptions that already exist. Thanks to Title VII, religious associations, organizations, and societies can limit employment to members of their own faith. That exemption extends to schools and college-owned, controlled or managed by religious organizations.
Clergy wouldn’t be forced to perform religious ceremonies that conflicted with their beliefs. Given the protection afforded people of faith, it would be immoral to allow faith to deny LGBTQIA+ people employment, healthcare, housing, and other accommodations. Jesus never refused to provide healthcare to anyone.
Unlike certain doctors who use faith to justify not treating the child of a lesbian couple, Jesus said, “Let the children come unto me. No LGBTQ+ person should be denied healthcare, housing, or service in a retail establishment.
Depending on the circumstance, as someone living with water on the brain or hydrocephalus, the inequality present could leave me facing a life-or-death situation — with a skewed view of faith used as justification. Ask yourselves, what does your deity do? Would your deity consider denying people shelter or healthcare as a suitable religious or spiritual practice?
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