In the past couple of years, we’ve done dozens of State of Belief stories on marriage equality. Here are a few highlights, as the Supreme Court hears arguments that could well lead to the end of marriage discrimination nationwide.
After speaking at a pro-marriage equality rally on the steps of the Supreme Court building in Washington, DC, State of Belief Radio host Welton Gaddy shares his thoughts on being present as oral arguments were being heard inside regarding the constitutionality of California’s discriminatory Proposition 8. (March 26, 2013)
Interfaith Alliance Executive Director Rabbi Jack Moline urges support for marriage equality as a moral act in houses of worship on the weekend prior to the Supreme Court’s hearing of marriage cases on April 28, 2015.
By Jonathan Craig on February 14, 2015
A battle between the state of Alabama and the federal judicial system on same-sex marriage ensued this past week as Alabama’s anti-marriage amendment was deemed unconstitutional and a federal judge ordered Alabama to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Is Justice Roy Moore’s rebellion a sign of backlash, or last gasp, for culture warriors opposing marriage equality? And earlier this month, President Obama’s remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast on the history of religious violence garnered criticism and condemnation from many pundits for allegedly failing to label terrorists as Islamic. Rabbi Jay Michaelson, a writer and activist, will discuss both marriage equality in Alabama and the President’s remarks.
By Jonathan Craig on February 28, 2015
While political leaders in Texas have been hostile to marriage equality, one Austin couple – Sarah Goodfriend and Suzanne Bryant– became the first and only legally married same-sex couple in the state on February 19, 2015. The couple is facing a challenge to the legality of their marriage by Texas State Attorney General Ken Paxton. Sarah and Suzanne speak with Welton about their lives since their wedding day, the actions taken by Attorney General Ken Paxton to challenge their marriage and the role the faith community is playing in fighting for equality for LGBT people in Texas.
By Jonathan Craig on November 1, 2014
The last few months have seen marriage equality spread across the country at an almost dizzying pace, but are traditionally conservative religious groups ready to accept it? That is the question being asked byBrandan Robertson, the founder of the Revangelical Movement and the spokesperson for Evangelicals for Marriage Equality. Brandan has just returned from a Southern Baptist Convention conference in Nashville where he presented a petition to the SBC leadership signed by over 1,000 Evangelical Christians urging a change in their position on civil marriage equality. He’ll tell Welton how that meeting went and if he expects change from the Southern Baptists anytime soon.
By Ray Kirstein on October 26, 2014
State of Belief Radio host Welton Gaddy talks with Evangelicals for Marriage Equality board member Matt Stohlandske about his faith-inspired offer to raise $150,000 for anti-gay bakery owners.
Matt explained his spirit-inspired reasoning in a recent Washington Post column, I’m a gay rights activist. I want to give $150,000 to someone who opposes gay marriage.
By Jonathan Craig on September 6, 2014
Since the Supreme Court ruled inUnited States v. Windsor last June and found that the federal government could recognize the marriages of same-sex couples, marriage equality has seen a remarkable streak of victories in federal courts across the country. Sadly that streak was broken last week when a federal judge in Welton’s home state of Louisiana upheld that state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Welton ends the show this week with a few thoughts about this loss in his home state and his recommitment to fighting for marriage equality across the nation.
By Jonathan Craig on June 21, 2014
Finally, Welton talks with Benny Witkovsky, a young member of the Interfaith Alliance team, who was at the White House on Monday when the president’s executive order was announced. Benny talks about what it was like to be in the room for that historic moment, why it took the President so long to act on this campaign promise, and the ways the Interfaith Alliance helped lobby for this essential policy for LGBT equality and religious freedom.
By Ray Kirstein on May 3, 2014
On April 26, 2014, the United Church of Christ made history by becoming the first religious denomination to file a lawsuit against a state to defend the right of its clergy and members to free exercise of religion. The suit charges that by prohibiting wedding ceremonies (as well as any other kind of blessing of relationships) for couples that do not hold a marriage license – and by denying licenses to same-gender couples – North Carolina is blatantly trampling the rights of a religious denomination to practice its beliefs.
By Jonathan Craig on January 12, 2014
Last week, Nicole Christensen, who married her partner Natalie on that first day same-gender marriages were legal in Utah, joined Welton on State of Belief to talk about the excitement of getting married and the cautious optimism she had that there would be no turning back from the progress that’s been made. Following the Supreme Court’s decision halting marriages in order to allow the appeal to go forward and the governor’s assertion that same-gender marriages were not valid despite when ceremonies had been performed, Welton decided to check back in with Nicole. Listen in to State of Belief this week for a first-person take on what all this is doing to the Utahns who are most directly affected – the couples themselves.
By Jonathan Craig on January 4, 2014
On December 20, a U.S. district judge in Salt Lake City surprised almost everyone by ruling that Utah’s ban on same-gender marriage is unconstitutional. The prevalence of the Church of Latter Day Saints in Utah – which has actively worked to oppose marriage equality – only adds to the drama and surprise of the decision. While the decision has since been appealed by the conservative state to the U.S. Supreme Court, there was an immediate rush to obtain licenses, setting records. Nicole Christensen, who married her partner Natalie on that first day, joins Welton this week on State of Belief to talk about the unexpected turn of events in Utah.
By Ray Kirstein on November 25, 2013
Even as the United Methodist Church was preparing for the trial of the Rev. Frank Schaeffer for performing a same-sex wedding ceremony for his own son, Arch Street United Methodist Church in Philadelphia joined in challenging the current position of the denomination by hosting the marriage of two longtime male members on November 9th. And what’s more, over 50 clergy joined Arch Street Senior Pastor, the Rev. Robin Hrynicka, in co-conducting the ceremony. This week, a Methodist jury found Rev. Schaeffer guilty, and sentenced him to a 30-day suspension – a sentence that anticipates his renouncing his commitment to equal blessings for LGBT couples. We’ll talk to Rev. Hrynicka about the trial, about the ceremony at his own church, and about why he considers the risks not only worth it – but necessary.
By Ray Kirstein on March 18, 2013
The Rev. Pat Bumgardner, senior pastor of the New York congregation of the Metropolitan Community Church, the world’s largest LGBT organization, on the Supreme Court’s taking on DOMA later this month, and why that should be important to all of us.
