Dear Mr. President,

As faith and civic leaders dedicated to affirming the sacred dignity and equal worth of every person, we are grateful for your upcoming executive order ending discrimination against LGBT people in hiring by federal contractors. We urge you not to include a religious exemption in the executive order. In keeping with the principle that our government must adhere to the highest standards of ethics and fairness in its own operations, we believe that public dollars should not be used to sanction discrimination.

We recognize in others, and have ourselves heard, a faithful calling to contribute to our communities and country through public service. The imperative to seek healing and justice is one of the most widely shared values across religious traditions and our world is better because of it.

In our democratic nation, we believe that public service—especially when it is directly supported by the federal government and our tax dollars—must be aligned with the Constitutional principle that all people deserve equal treatment under the law. Requiring all federal contractors to operate according to the same set of non-discriminatory hiring practices is more than fair; it is a critical safeguard that protects all parties. If contractors were allowed to selectively follow employment or other laws according to their religious beliefs, we would quickly create an untenable morass of legal disputes. Furthermore, if selective exemptions to the executive order were permitted, the people who would suffer most would be the people who always suffer most when discrimination is allowed: the individuals and communities that are already marginalized. Increasing the obstacles faced by those at the margins is precisely the opposite of what public service can and should do, and is precisely the opposite of the values we stand for as people of faith.

In a nation as diverse as the United States of America, it is critical that the federal government be trusted to follow—and indeed, to role-model—equitable employment practices. We believe that our mutual commitment to the common good is best served by policies that prohibit discrimination based on factors that have no relationship whatsoever to job performance. We are better and stronger as a nation when hiring decisions are made based on professional merit rather than personal identity.

An executive order that allows for religious discrimination against LGBT people contradicts the order’s fundamental purpose, as well as the belief shared by more and more Americans every day, which is that LGBT people should not be treated as second-class citizens. An exception would set a terrible precedent by denying true equality for LGBT people, while simultaneously opening a Pandora’s Box inviting other forms of discrimination.

In addition to protecting current and potential employees, we believe ensuring that federal contractors do not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in their hiring helps to reduce the likelihood that these contractors will discriminate against clients or other parties in the provision of services. If contractors are free to discriminate in their hiring, it is at least plausible, if not probable, to conclude that clients will experience discrimination as well. We believe that the best way to eliminate discrimination at one level is to reduce discrimination at all levels.

We are a pluralistic nation—one that is among the most religiously diverse and devout in the world. Each day we continue to make progress on our journey toward “a more perfect union,” in which all God’s children are treated with fairness and dignity. Many forces help spur this progress. They include the courage of everyday people who live openly as who they truly are; the witness of faith leaders who provide a compass for religious growth; the commitment of political leaders such as yourself who help guide our nation toward a more just path; and the passage of laws and policies that ensure fair treatment for all people.

In conclusion, Mr. President, we believe that the path to national unity lies in affirming the full equality and potential of every person. In the spirit of equality, fairness, and justice, we urge you to issue an executive order that ends discrimination against LGBT people in federal contracting without exceptions.

In Faith,

Imam Daayiee Abdullah

Light of Reform Mosque, Washington, DC

Rabbi Jonathan Adland

Clergy Advocacy Board, Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Dr. Michael J. Adee

Director, Global Faith and Justice Project



Rev. Dr. Susan R. Andrews

Moderator of the 215th General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA)



Rev. Dr. Jim Antal

Minister and President, Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ



Rev. Ed Bacon

Rector, All Saints Church, Pasadena



Karen Barr

Moderator, GLAD Alliance, Inc.



The Most Rev. Craig Bergland

Presiding Bishop, Universal Anglican Church



Matthew Berryman

Executive Director, Reconciling Ministries Network



Rev. Geoffrey Black

General Minister and President, United Church of Christ



Rabbi Richard Block

President, Central Conference of American Rabbis



Rabbi Sharon Brous

Founding Rabbi, IKAR, Los Angeles



Rev. Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock

Director, Soul Repair Center, Brite Divinity School



Rev. Dr. Ken Brooker-Langston

Executive Director, Disciples Center for Public Witness



Rev. Pat Bumgardner

Executive Director, Global Justice Institute, Metropolitan Community Churches



Rev. Dr. Marjorie L. Coons-Torn

Conference Minister, Penn Central Conference, United Church of Christ



Stosh Cotler

Chief Executive Officer, Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice



Rev. Richard W. Cowles, Jr.

Interim Conference Minister, Maine Conference, United Church of Christ



Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree

Interim Conference Minister, Florida Conference, United Church of Christ



Ann Craig, M.Div.

Director of Administration, The Fellowship Global



Rev. Jennifer D. Crumpton

Park Avenue Christian Church, New York City



Rev. Fred Davie

Executive Vice President, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York



Francis DeBernardo

Executive Director, New Ways Ministry



Rev. Dr. John Deckenback

Conference Minister, Central Atlantic Conference, United Church of Christ



Rev. Dr. Miguel A. De La Torre

Professor of Social Ethics and Latino/a Studies, Iliff School of Theology



Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer

Conference Minister, Southwest Conference, United Church of Christ



Marianne Duddy-Burke

Executive Director, DignityUSA



Rev. Roddy Dunkerson

Conference Minister, Nebraska Conference, United Church of Christ



Rev. Dr. Beverley F. Edwards

Interim Conference Minister, Rhode Island Conference, United Church of Christ



Rabbi Denise Eger

Senior Rabbi, Congregation Kol Ami, West Hollywood



Rev. Brian D. Ellison

Executive Director, Covenant Network of Presbyterians

Rabbi Marla J. Feldman

Executive Director, Women of Reform Judaism



Jim FitzGerald

Executive Director, Call To Action



Rev. Dr. Allen Fluent

Acting Conference Minister, Missouri Mid-South Conference, United Church of Christ



Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder

Presiding Bishop, The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries



Rabbi Steve Fox

Chief Executive Officer, Central Conference of American Rabbis



Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy

President, Interfaith Alliance



Rev. David R. Gaewski

Conference Minister, New York Conference, United Church of Christ



Sister Jeannine Gramick, SL

Executive Coordinator, National Coalition of American Nuns



Rev. Dr. Galen Guengerich

Senior Pastor, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, New York City



Dr. Edith Guffey

Conference Minister, Kansas and Oklahoma Conference, United Church of Christ



Rev. Debra W. Haffner

President and Chief Executive Officer, Religious Institute



The Very Reverend Gary R. Hall

Dean, Washington National Cathedral



Rev. Dr. Katharine Henderson

President, Auburn Theological Seminary



Rev. Dr. Alice Hunt

President, Chicago Theological Seminary



Dr. Mary E. Hunt

Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (WATER)



Rabbi Rick Jacobs

President, Union for Reform Judaism



Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo

Executive Minister, United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries

Rev. Jay Emerson Johnson, Ph.D.

Senior Director, Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry, Pacific School of Religion



Rev. Dr. Serene Jones

President, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York



Senior Bishop Zachary G. Jones

Unity Fellowship Church Movement



Nancy K. Kaufman

Chief Executive Officer, National Council of Jewish Women



Rev. Rob Keithan

Director of Public Policy, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice



Frances Kissling

President, Center for Health, Ethics and Social Policy



Idit Klein

Executive Director, Keshet



Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum

Senior Rabbi, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, New York City



Rev. Harry Knox

President and Chief Executive Officer, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice



Rabbi Debra Kolodny

Executive Director, Nehirim



Rev. Dr. Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan

President, Claremont School of Theology



Andy Lang

Executive Director, Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ



The Rev. Dr. Jacqueline J. Lewis

Senior Minister, Middle Collegiate Church, New York City



Rev. Odette Lockwood-Stewart

Director of Field Education and Contextual Learning, Pacific School of Religion



Rev. Dr. Cindi Love

The Church of Uncommon Hope, Washington, DC



Rev. Robin R. Lunn

Executive Director, Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists



Rev. Barry Lynn

Executive Director, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Ruth W. Messinger

President, American Jewish World Service



JamieAnn Meyers

Transgender Representative and Board Member, ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation



Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson

Brown University



Rev. Alan C. Miller

Conference Minister, Penn Northeast Conference, United Church of Christ



Dr. Randall Miller

Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean, Pacific School of Religion



Rev. Dr. James L. McDonald

President and Professor of Faith and Public Life, San Francisco Theological Seminary



Rev. Brian McLaren

The Cana Initiative



Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt

President, Starr King School for the Ministry



Alex Patchin McNeill

Executive Director, More Light Presbyterians



Rev. Peter Morales

President, Unitarian Universalist Association



Rev. Darlene Nipper

Deputy Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force



Jon O’Brien

President, Catholics for Choice



Marilyn Paarlberg

Executive Director, Room for All, Reformed Church in America



Rev. Dr. Rich Pleva

Conference Minister, Iowa Conference, United Church of Christ



Chett Pritchet

Executive Director, Methodist Federation for Social Action



The Very Rev. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale

President and Dean, Episcopal Divinity School

Dr. Hussein Rashid

Founder, islamicate, L3C

Bishop Tonyia M. Rawls

Sacred Souls Community Church and the Freedom Center for Social Justice



Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow

Moderator of the 218th General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA)



Bishop Gene Robinson

The Episcopal Church



Rev. Canon Susan Russell

Senior Associate Minister, All Saints Church, Pasadena



Rabbi David Saperstein

Director and Counsel of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism



Dr. Bernard Schlager

Interim President, Pacific School of Religion



Bishop John Selders

Bishop Presider, InterDenominational Conference of Liberation Congregations and Ministries



Rev. Kent Siladi

Conference Minister, Connecticut Conference, United Church of Christ



Sandy Sorensen

Director, United Church of Christ, Washington Office



Rev. Dr. Stephen V. Sprinkle

Director of Field Education and Supervised Ministry, Brite Divinity School



Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan

President, Disciples Justice Action Network



Bishop Melvin G. Talbert

The United Methodist Church



Vivian Taylor

Executive Director, Integrity USA



Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite

Professor of Theology, Chicago Theological Seminary



Pastor Joseph Tolton

Executive Director, The Fellowship Global



Rev. Dr. Emilie M. Townes

E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Womanist Ethics and Society, Vanderbilt Divinity School



Rev. John H. Vaughn

Executive Vice President, Auburn Theological Seminary



Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson

Moderator, Metropolitan Community Churches

Deb Word

President, Fortunate Families

