Ohio Faith Leaders Rally at Statehouse to Oppose HB 616, ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill

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Thursday, June 16, 2022

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Ohio Faith Leaders Rally at Statehouse to Oppose HB 616, ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill

Rev. Dr. Amariah McIntosh, “This is not what we want for Ohio. In our faith traditions, truth and honesty are part of our tenets.”

Columbus, Ohio–Today, Ohio faith leaders associated with the Honesty for Ohio Education Coalition rallied at Trinity Episcopal Church on Capitol Square, across from the Ohio Statehouse, to oppose House Bill 616, also known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill. 

Below are statements of Ohio faith leaders on why they oppose HB 616. 

Rev. Dr. Amariah McIntosh, Ohio Council of Churches, Bowling Green

“Under the guise of preventing the teaching of divisive concepts, House Bill 616 is an attempt to deny our children the right to learn honestly about their history, their literature and their lives. This bill is an attempt to eliminate a problem that does not exist. It’s an attempt to subvert our democracy and make it instead an autocracy. This is not what we want for Ohio. In our faith traditions, truth and honesty are part of our tenets.”

Rev. Dr. Vincent Stokes II, New Sardis Primitive Baptist Church, Cleveland 

“What does the Lord require of thee, but that you love mercy, do justly, to walk humbly with your God…and if we do this we will see everyone as our Brother and our Sister…and we walk in unity into a more just and equitable world.”

Rev. Dan Clark, Faith in Public Life, Newark

“My faith teaches me that when you know the truth, the truth sets you free. But in our Statehouse, unaccountable lawmakers are doing harm to Ohio’s children with the cruel and dishonest House Bill 616. In these weeks of Pride, Juneteenth, and the Fourth of July, let us hold to the highest ideals of freedom: diversity, equity, inclusion, and honesty in education.” 

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Faith in Public Life is a national movement of clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice, equality and the common good. Together, with a network of over 50,000 leaders, they are leading the fight to advance just policies at the state and federal level that affirm our values and the human dignity of all.