The Lavender Interfaith Collective (LInC) has issued a groundbreaking declaration that is reshaping the conversation around LGBTIQ+ rights and human dignity. The statement, titled Sacred Worth, Shared Freedomwas released on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and represents a united front of faith leaders committed to protecting and uplifting the LGBTIQ+ community.
In an era where anti-LGBTIQ+ legislation and violence are on the rise, this declaration serves as a rallying cry for faith communities to move beyond mere statements of welcome and into tangible actions of protection and advocacy. The statement emphasizes the interconnectedness of human dignity and community resilience, asserting that when one group is targeted, the entire community suffers.
The Call to Action from Las Vegas
The declaration, endorsed by Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer, Coordinator of the Lavender Interfaith Collective and Co-Pastor of Northwest Community Church – United Church of Christ, is a bold response to the growing wave of anti-LGBTIQ+ sentiment. Rev. Schuenemeyer emphasizes that silence is complicityurging faith leaders to reclaim the moral center of their traditions and stand in solidarity with the LGBTIQ+ community.
The statement calls for faith leaders to reject the distorted versions of religion that have been used to justify exclusion and instead embrace the liberating core that insists every human being is beloved. It is a call to action that transcends abstract theology, rooted in the lived experiences of queer and trans youth who have faced discrimination and violence.
A Line in the Sand
Sacred Worth, Shared Freedom draws a line in the sand, urging communities to recognize that the struggle for LGBTIQ+ dignity is inseparable from the struggle for a healthy democracy. The declaration is not just a statement; it is a commitment to action that protects, uplifts, and transforms.
Rev. Schuenemeyer highlights the importance of this moment, stating, We are choosing to stand with those whose lives are being legislated, debated, and threatened. LGBTIQ+ people are not problems to be solved but neighbors to be cherished. This call to action is a response to the cruelty faced by transgender and nonbinary youth, who have been targeted with legislation that threatens their safety and well-being.
The Role of Faith Communities
The declaration challenges the notion that faith leaders should stay out of public life. History shows that faith communities have always shaped the moral imagination of society. The question is not whether religion will influence public life, but how. Will we narrow the circle of belonging, or will we widen it? Will we bless fear, or will we bless the courage that accompanies those who are marginalized?
Those who endorse Sacred Worth, Shared Freedom are choosing courage. They are standing with those whose lives are being legislated, debated, and threatened. They are declaring that LGBTIQ+ people are not problems to be solved but neighbors to be cherished. This is about action—real, transformative action that uplifts and protects.
If you are a person of faith, a community leader, or simply someone who believes in human dignity, the invitation is clear. Read the statement. Share it. Sign it. Let it move you from conviction to courage, from belief to embodiment. Because our shared worth and dignity are something human judgment cannot set aside, and our shared freedom is not a dream. It is a responsibility. And it is ours to claim—together.
