Faith Communities Are Critical To PFLAG’s Mission

We are happy to speak at your faith community gathering about PFLAG and how to continually grow in how to be a welcoming and inclusive community to LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.

Contact us at pflagsantabarbara@gmail.com or leave a message at +1(805)364-2830 and we will get back to you! We are happy to present and visit at your invitation.

A PFLAG Board Members Shares a Personal Story About The Impact of Faith and Inclusion

What's it like being queer while growing up religious? A member shares their perspective about finding space in religious community as a queer person.

 Avanzando la Igualdad en la Costa Central

Como líderes y personas de fe, nuestras tradiciones afirman inequívoca y ferozmente que las personas LGBTQ+ son una parte sagrada y amada de la familia humana.

Moving Equality Forward on the Central Coast

As faith leaders and people of faith, our traditions unequivocally and fiercely affirm that LGBTQ+ people are a sacred and beloved part of the human family.

Como líderes y personas de fe, nuestras tradiciones afirman inequívoca y ferozmente que las personas LGBTQ+ son una parte sagrada y amada de la familia humana. Lamentamos cómo la religión se usa para justificar la discriminación. La libertad de practicar nuestra religión jamás nos da el derecho de dañar a otros o de imponer nuestras creencias.

Hoy, las personas LGBTQ+, nuestros vecinos, familia, amigos, congregantes, o nosotros mismos - estamos en riesgo de ser despedidos, rechazados de alojamiento, denegados de servicios, perseguidos de un baño, atacados verbal o físicamente, o excluidos de la atención médica crítica debido a quienes somos o a quienes amamos. 

Desafortunadamente, a medida que nos acercamos a las elecciones intermedias, predecimos que habrá más reformas anti-LGBTQ+, retórica, y mentiras promovidas por políticos, desde las elecciones locales para la mesa directiva escolar hasta las elecciones nacionales. Responderemos oponiéndose a estas leyes insidiosas y denunciando esta retórica dañina en nuestra comunidad. Haremos todo lo posible para mitigar el daño causado a las personas LGBTQ+. 

A nuestros seres queridos LGBTQ+: PFLAG y líderes religiosos afirmativos están con ustedes en la lucha. Celebramos y afirmamos su pertenencia a nuestras comunidades de fe. Estamos listos para luchar por un mundo en el que cada persona sea valorada, segura y próspera.

As faith leaders and people of faith, our traditions unequivocally and fiercely affirm that LGBTQ+ people are a sacred and beloved part of the human family. We lament how religion is used to justify discrimination. Freedom of religion never gives us the right to harm others or impose our beliefs on them.

Today, LGBTQ+ people—our neighbors, family, friends, fellow congregants, or we ourselves—are at risk of being fired, refused housing, denied service, chased from a bathroom, verbally or physically attacked, or barred from critical medical care because of who they are or who they love.

Unfortunately, as we approach the midterm elections, we predict that there will be more anti-LGBTQ+ bills, rhetoric, and outright lies promoted by politicians, from local school board elections to national contests. We will respond by opposing these insidious laws and by calling out this damaging rhetoric in our community. We will do everything we can to mitigate harm caused to LGBTQ+ people.

To our LGBTQ+ loved ones: PFLAG and affirming faith leaders are with you in the struggle. We celebrate and affirm your belonging in our faith communities. We are ready to fight for a world in which every person is valued, safe, and thriving. 

En la fe y la solidaridad, In faith and solidarity,

Rev. Liz Aguilar & Rev. Dr. Mark Richardson First United Methodist Church of Santa Barbara 

Charles Dennis Alger, MA, MDiv United Church of Christ (Santa Barbara)

Rev. Chris Brown Bethania Lutheran Church (Solvang)

Rabbi Stephen Cohen Congregation B'nai B'rith (Santa Barbara)

Kate Connell Clerk, Santa Barbara Friends Meeting (Quaker)

Rev. Randall Day St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley (Los Olivos)

Rev. Jennifer Fraser St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Goleta)

Damon Garcia Public Theologian, Author (Santa Maria)

Rev. Julia Hamilton Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara

Rabbi Debi Lewis Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community

Rev. Jeannette Love, RCWP & Rev. Suzanne R. Dunn, RCWP Catholic Church of the Beatitudes (Santa Barbara)

Rev. Elizabeth Molitors, Rev. Sarah Thomas, & Rev. Mark Asman, retired Trinity Episcopal Church of Santa Barbara

Rev. Dr. David Moore Beloved Community Church (Santa Barbara)

Dr. Karen Rice & Dr. Tim Burnette Way Collective (Santa Barbara)

Laura Salazar Diaconal Intern, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (Solvang)

Rabbi Arthur Gross Schaefer Community Shul of Montecito and Santa Barbara 

Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Congregation (Goleta)

University United Methodist Church (Isla Vista)