Erie Lutheran pastor rallies at Capitol for passage of Fairness Act's LGBTQ+ protections

The Rev. Jay Mitchell, pastor at Luther Memorial in Erie, recently made a statement on the Pennsylvania Capitol steps in Harrisburg urging Pennsylvania's legislature to pass the Fairness Act, which gives protections to people who identify as part of the LGBTIA+ community. He was speaking on behalf of the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania and all of the Lutheran bishops in Pennsylvania, who are united in seeking these protections. Here are the remarks he shared:

My name is Jay Mitchell, a child of God who uses he and him pronouns. I proudly identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and am married to someone who also identifies as such. And I am blessed to serve as a Lutheran pastor in downtown Erie. I stand here to strongly encourage our legislature to pass the Fairness Act. As a person who identifies as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and most especially as a pastor, I have heard too many stories — and experienced for myself — the discrimination that can come for actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. I know of more than a few folks, beloved children of God, who are in particularly vulnerable positions whether in the workplace or the public square due to their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. This is what compels me to speak up and speak out for passage of the Fairness Act for the commonwealth.

Recently, you may have heard that Erie City Council passed a resolution to declare our city a sanctuary for the LGBTQIA+ community — the first city to do so in Pennsylvania. And there is some comfort in that. But this is not enough. The resolution directs council that, should it become necessary, that should recommend to the chief of police to make prosecution of anti-LGBTQIA+ laws lowest priority. But it does nothing to help with the fear and mental and physical anguish that comes from knowing that one's identity could potentially be against the law and there is nothing on the books to help.

I was at that City Council meeting and heard many people speak as if being Christian — or a person of faith — is in some way the antithesis of being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community or even of being an ally of the community. As a gay pastor in the city of Erie, let me tell you nothing could be further from the truth.

Related: Aging With Pride group praises Erie's new sanctuary city designation, urges state reforms

I can also say that the Lutheran bishops and their communities in Pennsylvania also stand united to urge passage of the Fairness Act. We certainly recognize the Fairness Act as it currently reads allows a religious exemption and yet we stand boldly to speak for its passage. We recognize that the religious exemption written into the act affords us as congregations and communities of faith the option to live and express ourselves freely and with the protection of the commonwealth. We also seek for our siblings in the LBTQIA+ community to be afforded the same freedom and protection to live and express themselves without fear in our commonwealth.

And to my siblings who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community know this: This pastor sees you and this pastor loves you. But more importantly of this I am certain: God sees you and God adores you.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Pa. Lutheran bishops endorse Fairness Act to protect LGBTQ+ people