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You’re invited to participate:
Solidarity Sabbath/Sunday

An initiative addressing hate and violence directed against our LGBTQI+ neighbors
observed the weekend of October 8-9, 2022, or anytime in October.

In the USA, our LGBTQI+ neighbors are among the most targeted groups for hate crimes. Globally, 69 countries criminalize consensual sexual acts between adults of the same sex and 15 countries criminalize the gender identity and/or expression of transgender people. Consensual same-sex acts are punishable by death in eleven countries.

Stand in solidarity with LGBTQI+ people by wearing a rainbow ribbon to your religious meetings and services in person and online on Solidarity Sabbath/Sunday.

While people of faith may have differing stances on issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity, we can all agree that violence, hate and harassment are not acceptable and that we must work together to make our communities safer for everyone.

click here for Solidarity Sabbath graphic

Solidarity Prayer

Let us pray together: Dear God, We come to you now to join our spirits in prayer. We pray for an end to violence against our lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and queer neighbors. We pray for understanding where there is none, peace where there is heartbreak, and joy where hope is fleeting. Thank you, God, for creating each of us in your image. May we see you every time we look at one of your children. O God, hear our prayers. Amen.

Please feel free to share this prayer with your congregation, in your services, online, or on social media. To download the video to incorporate in your services, please visit: www.welcomingcps.org/solidarity-sunday. Feel free to adapt any resources appropriate to your faith tradition and local setting.

WAYS TO OBSERVE SOLIDARITY SUNDAY

• Wear your Solidarity rainbow ribbon at all times (including on Zoom), and in-person at religious service

• Share a picture of yourself on social media wearing the rainbow ribbon with a message denouncing violence, hatred, and harassment directed against LGBTQI+ people.

• Pray for an end to anti-LGBTQI+ violence and hate (personally and in worship)

• Educate your children, your faith community, your colleagues, your friends, and yourself about the need to stop violence against all people, especially gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

• Take the Solidarity pledge.

Solidarity Prayer

God, You are the Creator and Lover of all.
You wish us to live in solidarity
with each other and to rejoice in our diversity.

We pray that all Your lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex
and straight children may experience justice,
enjoy peace and spread Your love
throughout the world.

We pray in the name of God, who
welcomes all to a holy circle of
friendship. Amen.

Solidarity Pledge

I pledge:

I will work for civil and human rights for all people, including gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, queers and intersex. Civil rights are not special rights.

I will seek to stop jokes and unkind language about anyone, including gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, queers and intersex when spoken in my presence. Words that hurt and bigotry are not funny.

I will speak out against any slander, debasement, lies or dehumanization of anyone, including gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, queers and intersex including when spoken by political or religious leaders. Violent speech leads to physical violence.

I will work to stop physical violence against anyone, including violence against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, queers and intersex. Violence against any person is violence against all people.