Same-Gender Marriage and Religious Freedom

Yes I would like to start a conversation in my own community

We are very pleased to announce that the Newsweek / Washington Post OnFaith Forum is using our paper as the basis for this week's discussion.

While many faith traditions have grappled with issues of equality, including same-gender marriage, much of that work has been viewed through a scriptural lens. Interfaith Alliance seeks to shift the perspective on LGBT equality from that of problem to solution, from a scriptural argument to a religious freedom agreement, and to address the issue of equality as informed by our Constitution.

Same-Gender Marriage and Religious Freedom: A Call to Quiet Conversations and Public Debates by Interfaith Alliance President, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, offers a diversity of ideas based on Interfaith Alliance’s unique advocacy for religious freedom and interfaith exchange. This projects’s cross-denominational nature is at the core of Interfaith Alliance’s effort to spark national conversation and action.

This project is made possible through the support of the Arcus Foundation and the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation. If you would like to donate to support this and other initiatives of the Interfaith Alliance please click here.

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Latest Comments

Posted by sudad
why dont you start a medicin treatment for the people who feel that they are deferent from others like hormons or somthing medical anyway for me i respect all mankind and wish everybody goodness but i dont feel good when i look at two person who are the same sex getting married something wrong it is out of nature and against it so why we support something not naturally and against our nature this is wrong thing you are doing thank you
Posted by Bruce McGilvray
It's obvious that many of you have fallen for the (what has yet NEVER been proven) idea that homosexuality is genetic. I do not share such a notion and believe that it's a preferance and a choice. Even though I believe being gay is not genetic, I do believe a person's choice is theirs alone. Saying that, I have to say some things that many may not share about this subject. First, anyone who makes such speculations about the Bible that...
Posted by JSW
Since my faith permits same sex marriage, I take issue with those who would ban it. My first ammendment right to allow homosexual marriage is currently being restricted.
Posted by TK
The problem is that there's a huge misunderstanding in people who think civil marriage is a Church invention. Civil Marriage is a Pagan custom of civil law, and its purpose is for civil law, legal matters, nothing more. We inherited these pre-Christian laws. It has nothing to do with religious laws or the bible. In fact, I don't think the bible even mention's marriage anywhere. The Church didn't adopt the practice of marriage until after the...
Posted by Christian Miller
Rachel, Why do you want the government to impose its definition of marriage on you?
Posted by Rachel
Why should I, a Pagan, have to submit my marriage for Christians' approval? I don't see why conservative Christians here think they should be able to define everyone else's secular, state-sponsored marriages in the U.S. Define your church's marriages that way if you must, but don't dare impose your definition on me.
Posted by Sarah Laducer-Piersol
Thank you Rev Gaddy for publishing this paper, this kind of dialogue is much needed.
Posted by Sarah Laducer-Piersol
Reading these comments here it is interesting how so many people still feel that same-sex relationships are a sin or admonished in the Bible. Please! If you are reading this and using the Bible as a reason to admonish same-sex relationships please recognize the same-sex relationships that are blessed by GOD in the Bible. Just like you wake up in the morning and know you are straight, I wake up in the morning and know that I am GAY and I LOVE m...
Posted by D Kemp
This is wrong marriage is supposed to be a man and a woman. It is a sin and against God.
Posted by Christian Miller
Dr. Gaddy, You have invited this quiet discussion, but we have not heard your responses to this discussion.