Come On, Get Happy

Released today by the Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation:

New York City, February 14, 2005 – Today, fifty-six clergy from across the state representing a broad range of denominations issued a letter to the people of New York letting them know they support same-sex couples having access to the government institution of marriage and the legal rights and protections that come with it.

Signers of the letter said that marriage for same-sex couples as a religious rite was a decision for denominations to make on their own, but were clear in stating their belief that government should not be withholding the legal rights and protections of marriage from same-sex couples that it provides to other families. In the letter clergy said, “To deny those rights is to engage in discrimination” and then stated, “Discrimination is immoral.”

The fifty-six clergy were from faith communities that include American Baptist, Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Jewish (Reform), United Methodist Church, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Buddhist, Metropolitan Community Church, and Unitarian Universalist. Geographic representation across New York State was equally broad, ranging from Oneonta to Rochester and from Watertown to Syosset.