Asheville Clergy Ask City Council for Full Equality for All Asheville Citizens

Jackie Simms, of the Ethical Society of Asheville, was one of the speakers.

From Staff Reports

More than twenty-five local faith leaders from a variety of traditions gathered at First Congregational United Church of Christ on January 25 to release a Resolution in Support of Full Equality for All Asheville Citizens.

Rev. Joe Hoffman, pastor of First Congregational UCC and spokesperson for People of Faith for Just Relationships, explained, “The Resolution’s purpose is to stimulate Asheville and City Council to take a leadership role in a statewide effort to recognize the need for equal civil rights, employment rights, and family rights and protection from bullying for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) citizens.”

Jackie Simms of the Ethical Society of Asheville noted, “At the 2011 MLK Breakfast January 15, guest speaker Donna Brazile stated that if King were still alive she felt sure he would advocate for rights around sexual orientation.”

Hoffman concurred that it is appropriate to bring such a resolution to
City Council while the community is celebrating the nation’s greatest
civil rights leader. “The late Coretta Scott King, Julian Bond, Andrew
Young, and many other giants of the civil rights movement have expressed
support for gay civil and familial rights. A key organizer of the 1963
march where Dr. King gave the “I Have a Dream” speech was Bayard Rustin,
a gay man. Indeed, 2011 is a moment in history when we all need to
stand up and be counted on the side of justice and equality and heed Dr.
King’s words: ‘to delay rights is to deny rights’.”

In March 2010, People of Faith for Just Relationships endorsed City
Council’s passage of domestic partner benefits for city employees; the
group said that its endorsement of this Resolution, besides being
important for local LGBT families, will set the standard for communities
across the state. The new resolution quotes the city web site’s stated
commitment to “value and respect the diverse community, workforce, and
ideas” and to “value the safety and welfare of our employees and the
citizens we serve.”

The Rev. Ken Sehested, pastor of Circle of Mercy Congregation and a
member of the Alliance of Baptist Ministers, said, “Gay people face many
challenges including physical dangers of violence and bullying as well
as employment discrimination and denial of familial relationships. Only
through leadership and citizen involvement can we bring about this
critical change.”

Rabbi Batsheva Meiri of Congregation Beth Ha Tephila addresses the crowd which included Four City Council reps, Newman, Smith, Manheimer, and Bothwell.

The Resolution commits City Council to four specific actions including
“extending the City’s employment non-discrimination clause to include
sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity or expression.” It also
calls for enacting an anti-bullying ordinance for all city institutions
and grounds; creating a Domestic Partner Registry to recognize rights of
same gender couples to equal treatment in assisted living facilities,
funerals, health care, and other circumstances; and endorsing and
supporting the rights of same gender couples to share fully and equally
in the familial rights, responsibilities, and commitments of civil
marriage.

Rabbi Batsheva Meiri of Congregation Beth Ha Te-Phila said, “The
Resolution praises the welcoming atmosphere in Asheville, notes the fact
that Asheville has the fifth- highest concentration of same-sex couples
among medium-sized cities, and points to Asheville’s 600-plus same-sex
couples, many raising children. These families deserve full equality and
all the legal rights other families receive.”

The Resolution can be read in full at PFJR’s web site www.pfjr.org or at
www.nccommit.org (individuals may also sign the Resolution at this
site).

For more information contact Rev. Joe Hoffman, at (828) 252-8729 or (828) 777-8729 or by email at [email protected].