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Welcome to Faithful Voices
Faithful Voices, Iowans of faith and goodwill supporting marriage equality in Iowa. We are working to ensure that all couples, regardless of sexual orientation, have access to the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage, to take care of their family and contribute even more successfully to their communities. We come from many faith traditions and beliefs. We are clergy and laity, gay and straight who, from our faith and sense of justice and compassion, are compelled to work for equality in civil marriage for Iowa families headed by gay and lesbian couples.
As a project of Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, we unite diverse voices to champion religious freedom and respect for individual rights. Given it is the name of religion that is most often invoked by the vocal opponents of marriage equality, people of faith who support marriage equality have a particular responsibility and opportunity in helping make marriage equality a reality in Iowa. We recognize that there is a broad diversity of opinion among people of faith about marriage equality, including many who are undecided. Faithful Voices equips those who support marriage equality to be strong advocates and offers resources for those who still seek understanding.
We invite you to join us. Add your faithful voice for equality.
Interfaith Alliance encourages "quiet"conversation on marriage equality
Rev. Welton Gaddy, President of Interfaith Alliance calls on Americans to have a new kind of national debate about marriage, one in which we find a way for people with contradictory beliefs, religions, values and opinions to talk together without violating the basic nature of our democracy. Gaddy also holds up the Iowa marriage ruling as a perfect example of civil marriage offered to all couples by the government and religious marriage offered by houses of worship to those they wish to bless.
Read and download his entire article here: http://www.interfaithalliance.org/equality/read
Hard copies of the green paper are also available from the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Office by contacting us at: (515)279-8715 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Thanks Welton for this call to civil conversation! Thanks Iowa for providing a path to protecting both Faith and Freedom.
Faithful Voices Marriage Equality Pledge
Why Sign the Faithful Voices Pledge?
- Show the broad support among Iowans of faith and goodwill for marriage equality.
- Demonstrate that Iowans believe religon should never be used as a tool for discrimination.
- Stay informed of current marriage equality developments, events and specific ways you can help protect marriage equality in Iowa.
Here are three more ways to get involved:
A Voice of Faith
Connie Ryan Terrell, Executive Director of Interfaith Alliance of Iowa
I can’t even explain how excited I am to have the Faithful Voices project and this website launched. It is a tangible sign that Faithful Voices has “arrived” and Interfaith Alliance of Iowa is well down the long road as a critical partner in creating marriage equality for all couples in our state, regardless of sexual orientation.
Two pieces of the marriage equality puzzle are clear to those of us working daily to demand equal access to the rights and responsibilities of marriage for gay and lesbian couples in Iowa. The first piece is that... click here to read Connie’s story
California Lawyers Interviewed on Bill Moyers Journal
A transcript is now available online for those who missed Bill Moyers' interview with Ted Olson and David Boies. The lawyers are representing two same-gender couples who have been denied the right to marry since the Proposition 8 passed in California in 2008. Speaking about the need to challenge the Supreme Court on the issue, David Boies said “When you're dealing with matters of human rights and civil rights, our Constitution and our history is that you don't deprive people of those rights simply based on majority rule.”
Read the full transcript here.
Iowa Clergy sign letter supporting same-gender marriage
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa and Action Fund presented a letter in support of same-gender marriage signed by 167 of Iowa's clergy to Iowa legislators on Tuesday, February 16, 2010.
The clergy support marriage equality, oppose any attempt by legislators to diminish civil marriage rights for same-gender couples, and reject any attempt to use sacred text and religious traditions to write discrimination into our state's constitution.
They asked Legislators not to write their own particular religious beliefs into law but to respect the boundaries between "church and state". Legislators must uphold our state's constitution and our state's history of affirming equal protections to all people. The clergy asked legislators to stand with them for equality for ALL Iowa families, including those headed by same-gender couples.
Read some of the media coverage here:
A Call to a New National Discussion on Marriage from President of national Interfaith Alliance
