Northwest minister Rev. Terry Davis joined with other clergy from across the religious spectrum to stand in opposition to “religious exemption” bills pending in the current Georgia Legislative session. These bills would open the door for legal discrimination based on religious beliefs. Unitarian Universalists ministers Rev. Duncan Teague, Rev. Jeff Jones, minister of the Emerson UU Congregation, joined Rev. Davis in reaffirming our First UU principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
The rally was held on a very chilly February afternoon in Liberty Plaza, which is located near the State Capitol building. Jeff Graham, Executive Director of Georgia Equality, introduced a series of speakers who spoke in support of wider tolerance for all Georgians.
Simone Bell, Southeast Regional Director of Lambda Legal, shared that, “There is nothing Godly about writing discrimination into the law.“
Rabbi Pamela Gottfried made a biblical reference to the bills, saying, “Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, this legislation seeks to harm the most vulnerable members of our society —citizens without protections under a state constitution and without legal recourse against discrimination.”
Rev. William Flippin of Emanuel Lutheran Church echoed the sentiments earlier expressed by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he cried out that “the moral arc of the universe bends and will continue to bend towards justice.”
Watch this short video of the rally.