Faith Community Letter: Freedom to Marry Colorado

As faith leaders and communities throughout the state of Colorado, we stand together in support of the freedom for LGBTQIA+ Coloradans to marry the person they love. We denounce discrimination based on gender, sex, sexuality, and family composition and proclaim together the sacredness of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Far-right extremists are attempting to misuse religion as a justification for hatred and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ Coloradans.These efforts stand in stark opposition to our core religious and spiritual convictions, which compel us to forge a beloved community that rejects the misinformation and rejects divisions that fuel hostility, misunderstanding, fear and hatred expressed toward gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and nonbinary persons. The message of love and compassion, justice and peace are central to our religious traditions.

On November 5, 2024, Colorado voters will have the opportunity to vote to remove the current ban on marriage for same-sex couples in our constitution (Amendment 43). Narrowly passed in 2006, this amendment defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Even though the historic U.S. Supreme Court case, Obergefell v Hodges rightly decided that the freedom to marry is the law of the land, recent remarks by Supreme Court Justices Alito and Thomas have put the right to marry for same-sex couples at risk. If it is overturned, marriage for same-sex couples in Colorado would no longer be legal unless we repeal this archaic ban in our constitution.

It is imperative that we come together to support the freedom to marry for all Coloradans, and defeat any efforts to bring forward amendments that will harm the LGBTQIA+ community. We must work tirelessly to define the Colorado laws to match our values.

Five reasons why Colorado’s faith leaders are standing in support of Freedom to Marry Colorado:

Honoring the Sacred Dignity of Every Person: Our faiths teach that every person is inherently sacred and deserving of dignity and respect. This principle compels us to oppose any laws or actions that discriminate against LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Respecting Our Religious Freedom: Our sacred texts affirm and celebrate human expressions of love and partnership. Denying marriage rights based on gender or sexual orientation is against the teachings and practices of our faiths. True religious freedom includes the right of our communities to perform same-sex marriages as a sacred rite without government interference.
LGBTQIA+ People Are Beloved: Being LGBTQIA+ is a fundamental aspect of a person’s identity, not a moral defect. Singling out individuals for discrimination violates the basic principles of fairness and equality that our faiths uphold.
Building a Colorado with Compassion and Justice: Our spiritual convictions call us to create a community founded on compassion and justice. Discriminatory laws and practices are contrary to these values and harm the very fabric of our society.
Upholding Marriage as a Sacred Commitment: Love and commitment are sacred values that should be celebrated and honored. Marriage, as an expression of these values, should be available to all, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

Coloradans are united together in our support of the Freedom to Marry. We encourage Colorado voters to Vote YES to remove the current ban on marriage for same-sex couples in our constitution, and to oppose any attempts to limit protections for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Signed,

Faith Leaders and Communities in Support of Amendment J - The Freedom to Marry (listed below).

NOTE: This is an evolving list that will be updated as faith leaders and organizations endorse. You can find an updated list on our website at www.freedomtomarryco.org.

Shara Smith, CEO of Interfaith Alliance

Rabbi Joseph R. Black, Temple Emanuel

Rev. Jerry Lee Butler, St. Andrew United Methodist Church

Rev. Randy Spaulding, Boulder Mennonite Church

Rev. Sean Neil-Barron, Foothills Unitarian Church

Rev. Gretchen Haley, Foothills Unitarian Church

Pastor Amy Stapleton, St. Andrew United Methodist Church

Rev. Eric Banner, First Universalist Church of Denver

Rev. David Schwartz, Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder

Rev. Thomas Rhodes, Unitarian Universalist Association

Rev. Teri Schwartz, Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder

Rev. Ron Phares, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Colorado Springs

Pastor Ryan Howell, Crossroads Church in Loveland, CO

Rev. Mollie Landers Hatt, Lakewood United Church of Christ

Pastor Jordan Farrell, Beth-El Mennonite Church

Rev. Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson, First Congregational Church of Loveland UCC

Pastor Jennifer Morgan, Highlands Church of Denver

Rev. Leah Coleman, United Methodist Church

Rev. Felicia Smith Graybeal, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Rev. Elizabeth Hoblin Endicott, First Congregational Church of Loveland UCC

Rev. Julia McKay, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church

Pastor Hannah Martin, Boulder Mennonite Church

Rev. Christopher Gilmore, Sixth Avenue UCC

Pastor Wendy Davidson, Heart of the Rockies Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Pastor Jerry Martin, Beth-El Mennonite Church

Rev. Amy Morgan, First United Presbyterian Church of Loveland

Pastor Amy Zimbelman, First Mennonite Church Denver

Pastor Gareth Unruh, Highlands Church of Denver

Rev. Logan Bennett, The Refuge at La Foret UCC

Rev. Jo Winn, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in CO Springs

Rev. Dale Young, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in CO Springs

Rev. Karla Crescenta, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in CO Springs

Rev. Janice Black, Unitarian Universalist

Rev. Neil Gilfillan, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in CO Springs

Rev. Rae Blaisdell, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in CO Springs

Rev. Anne Scalfaro, Calvary Baptist Church of Denver

Rev. Jamie Boyce, Unitarian Universalist fellowship of Durango

Rev. Nicole Williams, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in CO Springs

Rev. Larissa Romero, Park Hill Congregational Church UCC

Rev. Ruth Rinehart, Jefferson Unitarian Church of Golden

Rev. Sarah Millspaugh, Colorado Unitarian Universalist Church

Pastor Jeni Umble, Boulder Mennonite Church

Rev. Cynthia Espeseth, All Saints Episcopal Church

Rabbi Joshua Ginsberg-Margo, Temple Emanuel

Rabbi Dave Yedid, Base Denver

Rabbi Fred Greene, Congregation Har HaShem

Rabbi Julian Cook, Temple Emanuel

Rabbi Jay Sherwood, Temple Shalom

Rabbi Kim Harris, Congregation B’nai Chaim

Rabbi Melissa Hoffman, Jewish Initiative for Animals

Rabbi Rick Rheins, Temple Sinai

Rabbi Eliot Baskin, Shalom Park

Rabbi Eva Sax-Bolder, Haver

Rabbi Susan Miller Rheins, Temple Sinai

Rabbi Sarah Shulman, Hebrew Educational Alliance

Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith, Temple Or Hadash

Rabbi Charna Rosenholtz, Shulchan Learning Center

Rabbi Sara Gilbert, Beth Israel Congregation

Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein, Adventure Judaism

Pastor Karen Cox, Boulder Mennonite Church

Pastor Vern Rempel, Beloved Community Mennonite Church

Rabbi Boaz Heilman, Congregation B’nai Torah

Rabbi Marc Soloway, Congregation Bonai Shalom

Rabbi Sandra Cohen, Rodef Shalom

Rabbi Adam Morris, Temple Micah

Rev. Patty Walker

Interfaith Alliance

Temple Emanuel

Foothills Unitarian Church

Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder

Lakewood United Church of Christ

Highlands Church of Denver

Sixth Avenue United Church of Christ

The Refuge at La Forte United Church of Christ

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango

Park Hill Congregational Church United Church of Christ

Congregation Har HaShem

Temple Sinai

Congregation B’nai Torah

Temple Micah

Base Denver

All Saints Episcopal Church

First United Methodist Church Prairie Campus