Interfaith Alliance

Father and son, producers of the award-winning documentary "Inlaws & Outlaws" explain why they give to the Interfaith Alliance...

   

By Bob and Chrys Lemon Contact Bob Lemon, 79 years old, grew up in a small town in the Texas Panhandle. His late wife, Mary Lou, and he have been big supporters of GLBT issues, especially since their son, Chrys, came out to them in 1993. Chrys, a graduate of the Air Force Academy, is an attorney in Washington, DC. The Lemons have always been involved in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), recognizing the challenges that their faith tradition and others continue to have around GLBT equality.

As producers of the award-winning documentary, "Inlaws & Outlaws", a film about couples and singles, gay and straight, we understand the place where The Interfaith Alliance stands, and the very challenging conversations that must be initiated.

One investment we make in our work towards marriage equality is in the places of faith where that struggle resides. The Interfaith Alliance is uniquely positioned to bring the GLBT conversations into these very difficult spaces and, eventually, into the public square, for real dialogue and examination. Religious freedom is a GLBT issue; it is at the very core of our struggle for equality.

 

THE INTERFAITH ALLIANCE

So, why do we support The Interfaith Alliance? Founded in 1994, The Interfaith Alliance, the national non-partisan advocacy voice of the interfaith movement, today boasts over 185,000 members from more than 75 faith traditions.

Inherent in the extraordinary diversity of those faith traditions - which include Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Baptist, AME, Unity Fellowship, UFMCC, Methodist, Unitarian-Universalism, Episcopalian, Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, Lutheran, Catholic, United Church of Christ, Paganism, Baha'i, Humanist, Atheist, Agnostic and people of good will who are not associated with a faith tradition - is a rich diversity of race, culture, age, income level, gender, gender identity and sexual orientation that is also reflected in the Boards of Directors and on the staff.

At the heart of their missions is the task of promoting democratic values, defending religious liberty, challenging hatred and religious bigotry, and reinvigorating informed civic participation. The field, with more than fifty affiliates and 185,000 members, is at the center of the work---it is the heart and the hands of The Interfaith Alliance. Programming in the field anticipates, informs and authenticates the work in Washington, DC.

The Interfaith Alliance is an organization that, at its core, protects religious freedom. The goal, around GLBT concerns, is to connect the issues of religious liberty and GLBT equality in a manner that expands and moves the possibilities for that equality.

The Interfaith Alliance, through a national public campaign, First Freedom First, addressed the urgent need for a massive public education project that revolved around: inclusion into the democratic process and conversations in the public square of traditionally marginalized people and leaders of minority religious traditions; a clarification of the meaning of democratic values and moral values; empowerment for the progressive religious community and strengthening of grassroots activists; and, continuation of the nation's historic commitment to religious and civil liberties.

 

FAMILIES WITH LOVE AND COMMITMENT, NOT POLITICS

One of the core issues was "Respect All Families" which states that "...Americans value families in which love and commitment, not politics, define the home. Happy, healthy families deserve respect and should be free to live according to their own beliefs. As responsible adults, it is the freedom to make personal choices about family life and raising children, without coercive politics invading our homes and privacy."

Clearly, the role within mainline religious traditions allows us to initiate and continue public discussion around equality. In order to demonstrate the important connections between people's interests in issues of public policy and the impact of these issues on strengthening or weakening religious liberty, The Interfaith Alliance provides policy analysis on a wide range of social-political issues.

Through participation in the Democracy Project, it is clear that sixty-two percent of the members vote in the primaries and 84% vote in the general election. One third of these members identified as Republican. This combination of politically active / politically diverse members makes for a challenging audience. The policy and communications staff continues to craft analysis and messaging for coalition partners and member outreach. The Interfaith Alliance will continue to provide leadership in the religious communities on issues of public policy.

Convinced that the religious community as well as our democracy as a whole will benefit from greater involvement on the part of key communities - minority faiths, people of color, women, GLBT Americans and youth - that too often have been pushed to the periphery of influence or ignored completely, The Interfaith Alliance forms new partnerships, increases cooperation with these groups, and assists as possible in empowering their voices.

 

RELIGION AND POLITICS

Religion can and should have a major impact on American politics, but not in a manner that entangles the institutions of religion and the institutions of government so that the relationship threatens religious freedom and civil liberties. There is a better way. The Interfaith Alliance's vision of religion and politics in this nation is complemented by the political savvy and organizational wherewithal that come from leading and resourcing various religious communities in this nation for the past ten years.

The Interfaith Alliance addresses the current questions in our nation regarding the proper relationship between religion, values, politics and government, and works to increase the public's understanding of religious liberty and the proper relationship between religion and government. The Interfaith Alliance seeks to convince others of the importance of our unique perspective - one of inclusion rather than exclusion, one that celebrates diversity rather than denigrating it, one that actively encourages political participation by people of faith and good will rather than ignoring it.

The ongoing programs and the greatly strengthened grassroots organizations enable the organization to challenge and correct current potentially-devastating errors in understanding and to outline a path into the future that includes an appreciation for religious pluralism, a healthy interaction between religion and politics, and a constitutionally prescribed relationship between the institutions of religion and the institutions of government.

Our commitment to the Interfaith Alliance is considerable. We invite you to join us in this important work at www.interfaithalliance.org or by calling Julius Weiss at 202-238-3270.      

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