FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2022
CONTACT
Jonny Levenfeld, West End Strategy Team
jlevenfeld@westendstrategy.com; 202-704-4535
Interfaith Alliance Hails Passage of Respect for Marriage Act in the House
WASHINGTON—After the House voted today to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, interfaith advocates are celebrating a historic victory for LGBTQ+ equality and religious freedom. The Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, released the following statement:
“This is a hard-earned win for millions of LGBTQ+ and interracial families who deserve equal protection under the law and peace of mind. Religious Americans overwhelmingly believe that the freedom to marry who one loves is a matter of human dignity.
“The extraordinary, broad-based support for this bill only reaffirms that religious freedom and equality are not in conflict. To the contrary, the multifaith mobilization to pass this bill is a testament to our shared belief across religious traditions that every person deserves to lead a life of dignity and respect.
“We look forward to celebrating with our allies across the country when President Biden signs this historic legislation into law.”
The wide consensus among diverse faith traditions in support of the Respect for Marriage Act has been unprecedented. Interfaith Alliance led 45 denominations and faith-based organizations, representing millions of Americans, in a joint statement affirming their support for the bill. In addition, Interfaith Alliance spearheaded a letter to Senate leaders alongside four major Christian denominations and a broad group of multifaith partners applauding the robust religious freedom protections added by the Senate.
Interfaith Alliance champions an inclusive vision of religious freedom and has long promoted the principle that LGBTQ+ equality and religious freedom are complementary – not contradictory – values. If you are interested in speaking further with Interfaith Alliance, please contact Jonny Levenfeld at 202-704-4535 or jlevenfeld@westendstrategy.com.
Interfaith Alliance celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism. Founded in 1994, Interfaith Alliance brings together members from 75 faith traditions as well as those without a faith tradition to protect faith and freedom. For more information visit www.interfaithalliance.org.