I am here today to speak in favor of Senate Bill 172 as a Christian and a United Methodist minister; as a pastor, friend, and straight ally of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people; and as a newlywed.
As a Christian, I am committed to the God revealed through Jesus, who taught his followers that the essential way to love God is to love your neighbor as yourself, to speak up and take action for the needs of those on the margins, and to include all people in the circle of care and justice. I am part of a long tradition that sees the religious life as inextricably connected with the ordering of society in ways that honor human dignity, a tradition that claims “There is no holiness but social holiness,” and that sees the incarnate God in all people but especially in those whom society has rejected, cast out, or marginalized.
My tradition, the United Methodist Church, like many other Christian denominations, is currently divided regarding recognition of same-sex relationships. However, we are clear that all people are of sacred worth, and that the human and civil rights of all people should be protected as a matter of clear and simple justice. The Colorado Civil Union Act would move our state toward greater justice by allowing people in committed, same-sex relationships to have many legal protections that are not currently available to them. At the same time, this bill also protects religious leaders’ freedom of religious expression by not requiring them to perform ceremonies that go against their beliefs or the requirements of their religious bodies.
I became an ally of LGBT rights because of my faith. The teachings of Jesus, the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people, and what we know about human sexuality from psychology and biology, all lead me to believe that God loves all people equally as children of God, that it is not a sin to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered, and that same-sex relationships hold the same potential and challenges as heterosexual relationships: they are equally capable of being the solid foundation for a family with or without children, equally responsible for assuring mutual care and support, and should therefore be equally of interest to the state in honoring stability, mutual commitment, and responsibility.
In my pastoral role, and among my friends, I have seen many examples firsthand of the beauty, joy, and love found within committed same-sex relationships and families headed by same-sex couples; and I have also heard the stories of pain and tears, from families who have faced not only social isolation but also legal barriers to living out their commitments in hospitals, in adoption courts, and after a loved one’s death. The Colorado legislature has the opportunity now to reduce some of those barriers, to end discrimination and injustice and the pain that they cause, by providing legal protections to more committed couples.
The people of Colorado have decided that marriage is reserved for relationships consisting of one man and one woman, and I know that religious or spiritual beliefs were the basis for many people’s support of that decision. While I personally disagree with this stance, it is important to note that Senate Bill 172 has absolutely no impact on this established definition of marriage. Instead, it acknowledges that the state already recognizes some committed relationships for its own, secular purposes; and it extends that recognition and certain important legal protections to all people, instead of excluding some couples and families because of the gender of those involved. All people deserve equal protection under the law, and Civil Unions are the best option available in Colorado for protecting the rights of people whose relationships do not fit the state’s definition of marriage, but who are doing the important work of building strong families and contributing to their community.
Finally, on a personal note, I want to share that in October, I had the joy of committing my life to a wonderful and loving partner, a man with whom it is my privilege to walk through life, to build a home and family together. Although this bill is not about marriage per se, this recent personal experience of finding the person who loves me and whom I love, and wanting to stand up in public to commit my life to him, makes it clearer to me than ever why this issue is so important.
Committed relationships have always been part of human experience, but societies in different times and places have identified some of those relationships as more worthy of recognition than others. As we have learned more about the diversity of human experience and expression, what remains constant is the importance of loving, committed relationships in the formation of families and communities. For those of us who believe that God is love, and that God calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves, providing legal protections to all committed couples, whether gay or straight, is an important way of continuing to move forward in honoring the humanity and dignity of all people both as citizens and as children of God.
