Religious Leaders Respond to Orlando, Embracing LGBTQ Community During Difficult Time
By HRC staff
Post submitted by HRC staff with contributions from Katherine Burns
June 15, 2016
In the wake of the Orlando shooting, religious leaders have stood united against hate and in support of the LGBTQ community.
Prominent Christian religious leaders have preached compassion and understanding. The Rev. Al Sharpton wrote in a Huffington Post blog post that he has been “disappointed by people who otherwise consider themselves ministers, activists or social justice seekers express such homophobic views.” He denounced hatred and bigotry and advocated for faith leaders to espouse more love in the wake of such tragedy.
The Presbyterian Church of the USA released a powerful statement supporting their LGBTQ members: “Facing this evil, we reaffirm the commitment of our own General Assembly to oppose all efforts to demean or exclude those in our society and our churches whose sexual orientation has made them targets of abuse and hatred.”
The Alliance of Baptists tweeted their love and support for those affected by the Orlando shooting:
Leaders in the Catholic Church have also expressed their deepest condolences to the victims’ families and advocated for love. According to a statement from the Vatican, the massacre in Orlando evoked the “deepest feelings of horror and condemnation” in Pope Francis. Archbishop Blase Cupich of Chicago, released a statement of love: “Our prayers and hearts are with the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando, their families and our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.”
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