National Cathedral rallies for marriage equality at the Supreme Court

[Washington National Cathedral] The Very Rev. Gary Hall, dean of Washington National Cathedral, spoke out today in favor of same-sex marriage rights as the Supreme Court Justices heard oral arguments on the cases disputing California’s Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act, which address whether lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans should have the freedom to marry. Dean Hall and members of the Cathedral community offered their support to the LGBT community in a rally organized by the United for Marriage coalition.

“The freedom to marry the person you love is a not only a Constitutional right. It’s a moral right.  As a straight man, my church and my government have given me those rights. Those of us from churches and synagogues and temples and mosques gathered today are saying:  our faith communities are ready to extend those rights to everyone.  It’s time for the government to do the same,” said Dean Hall at the rally outside the Supreme Court.

Dean Hall is available to speak with the media about the decision before the Court, and the Cathedral’s decision to welcome same-sex weddings and to offer a progressive faith voice to the public discussion on same-sex marriage. To speak with him, please contact Meredith MacKenzie, meredith@rabinowitz-dorf.com or on her cell phone (202) 427-2007.

“As one of the nation’s most iconic faith communities, Washington National Cathedral strives to be a house of prayer where all are welcome, a place where we believe every person is loved by God,” said Dean Hall.  “We can preach that from the pulpit, but the most emphatic way we can say it is to live it by uniting same sex couples in marriage at the altar in our Cathedral.”