In
light of President Trump's tweet banning transgender individuals from
serving in the military and the Department of Justice's argument that
employers can legally discriminate against people on the basis of
sexual orientation, I am compelled to oppose these actions and to affirm
the moral principle of equal rights for all persons, including the
LGBTQ communities. I do so as a follower of Jesus Christ, as Presiding
Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and as a citizen who loves this country.
This conviction is not born primarily of a social ideal, but of the
teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and the witness of our biblical and
theological tradition.
Genesis 1:26-27 teaches us that
all human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. This is
a divine declaration of the inherent sanctity, dignity and equality of
every person.
Further, the sanctity of every human person and
the principle of human equality before God are deeply embedded in the
teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. In Mark 22:26 and Luke 13:10-17, Jesus
teaches the inherent worth and dignity of the human person. In Matthew
5:43-38, he tells us of God's love for all people equally. In Luke
10:25-37, he commands us to love God and to love every person. Above
all, Jesus teaches that we are to treat all others as we ourselves
would want to be treated (see Luke 6:31-36).
As
followers of Jesus Christ we believe the inherent sanctity, dignity,
and equality of every human being as a child of God is part of the
moral foundation of our faith. In the Episcopal Church we promise in
Holy Baptism to "respect the dignity of every person," and to "seek and
serve Christ in all persons."
As Americans, we
believe in civil and human equality, as one of the foundational ideals
of our country. Discrimination based on gender identity or sexual
orientation is a violation of the fundamental ideal of equality in
America. The Declaration of Independence says, "We hold these truths to
be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain inalienable rights." Those rights - and
the protection from discrimination - apply equally to all Americans. I
truly believe that the overwhelming goodness and kindness and sense of
justice of the American people are summed up in the words of the Pledge
of Allegiance, which says that we are "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Therein is the soul of
America!
So, to the transgender individuals currently
serving in the armed forces: thank you. We are grateful for your
service and for your sacrifices. We support you and all service
members and veterans. You are our neighbors, brothers and sisters in
God's human family, and fellow citizens of this country we love.
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop & Primate, The Episcopal Church
