We're all created equal.

But we aren't all treated equally.

For many years, Barry Russell, a Lancaster gay man, has worked tirelessly for equality for the local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.

Grace United Church of Christ, 1947 New Holland Pike, will host his latest endeavor: an LGBT Interfaith Celebration of Love and Justice from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

The celebration of word and music will include leaders from Native American, Christian, Jewish, Unitarian Universalist and Buddhist traditions. Jeffrey Clouser, Grace UCC director of music, will lead the music, including an interfaith choir, with Karen Deering as pianist. Sign language will be provided.

A reception will follow, with information on the Pennsylvania State nondiscrimination House Bill 300 and Senate Bill 300 currently in the legislature.

The bills would ban discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Rep. Mike Sturla will speak about the legislation.

The interfaith celebration is just one of many events being held across the state to raise awareness of Equality Pennsylvania, described on its website as "the commonwealth's leading organization advancing equality and advancement for LGBT Pennsylvanians."

In an April letter to faith leaders, Ammon Ripple, Equality Pennsylvania's faith organizer, writes that most religious denominations believe LGBT people should be treated fairly in civil society … "and yet there are no civil protections against discrimination in the state of Pennsylvania for LGBT people."

"You may be surprised to learn that it is perfectly legal to discriminate against LGBT persons by firing them, turning them away from their home, or refusing service at a public business," Ripple states.

"There are no federal protections either," he writes. "This is an injustice."

The Interfaith Celebration Coalition will present the celebration. The Rev. Anne Mason, pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster, described the coalition as a group of about 20 faith leaders of local open and affirming congregations who began meeting about a month age.

Mason designed the program for the celebration, which will begin with a procession of faith leaders, while four men from the Lancaster American Indian Movement drum on one large drum.

Then Erlinda Mother Crow Cruz, a Native American of the Arawak/Taino tribe, will perform a traditional "Call of the Four Directions" ceremony.

Sign up for our newsletter Success! An email has been sent with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.

"We identify as two spirits," Cruz says. "We can be straight or gay."

Russell will welcome the audience.

"I think it will be a wonderful, magical evening," Russell says. "We want to show the Lancaster community, perhaps those a little more conservative, that there are a whole slew of people out there — in faith, business, the legislature — who support LGBT."

Buddhist sensei Ed Sullivan, of the Red Rose Sangha, will lead a "Loving Kindness Meditation." The sangha meets at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster.

Esther Wells, of Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, will discuss lamentations.

The Memorial Bells of Grace will play "Let There Be Peace on Earth."

The Rev. Delores P. Berry, an openly gay evangelical minister and a gospel singer, will perform. She worships at Wisdom's Table at St. Peter's UCC, 816 Buchanan Ave.

The Carmitchell Sisters, Annie and Bobbi, will sing at the close of the ceremony.

The Rev. Chris Hart, intentional interim pastor at Grace, will give a homily.

"I'll share a little about Jesus' love reaching out to all people regardless of barriers," Hart says.

"One of our goals is to bring the community together," Russell says.

"We walk together," says Mason, "not to pity or to blame but to work for justice in this world. We're doing this as an interfaith celebration because we're encouraging each individual person to draw on their own faith, whatever that is."

Mason described the celebration as an arc that "goes down to acknowledge the common suffering … . Then we find hope and we move into action, up and out. To me, that's the religious journey. That's why I do this.

"As we walk out, I hope we'll say, 'Yeah, we can do this together.'"