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Lambda Legal and the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries Lament Black Church Burnings
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Legal Help Desk
July 3, 2015
(New York, July 2, 2015)---Lambda Legal and The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries issued the following joint statement from Executive Director Kevin Cathcart and Bishop Yvette Flunder:
“We are saddened and dismayed at the news of Black church burnings across this country. While the facts about the origins of some of the church fires are still under investigation, the meaning of this widespread and dangerous pattern of fires, following closely after the murders in a Black church in Charleston, cannot be mistaken. Violent acts like this, especially against historic sanctuaries for Black people of faith, are a scourge on our nation and a tragic reminder of how much work remains.
“Some members of the LGBT community, especially those LGBT people of color who simultaneously face the lived realities of both racism and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, know all too well what it’s like to live in terror in this country because of who they are.
“Senseless violence motivated by hate has no place in a just society and every one of us has an obligation to stand up, speak out and work to end such violence.
“This kind of terrorism has been used for centuries throughout this country as retribution for progress and as a threat against those who are fighting for it. But we shall not be moved. Our thoughts and prayers are with the congregations of these churches and we offer our promise to continue fighting for equality and justice for all.”
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Contact Info
Lambda Legal press contact: Jonathan Adams C: 646-752-3251; jadams@lambdalegal.org
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
The Fellowship is a cross-denominational fellowship of primarily African-American Christian leaders representing churches and faith-based organizations from diverse geographic and theological backgrounds. The overriding purpose of The Fellowship is to support religious leaders, both clergy and laity, in moving towards a theology of radical inclusivity which, by its very nature, requires an equally radical social ministry reaching to the furthest margins of society to serve all in need without prejudice or discrimination. The Fellowship works to create, sustain and celebrate community on the margins.