This extraordinary coalition brings together a broad spectrum of faith communities comprised of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who practice their spirituality openly. The coalition includes local communities of faith who are supportive of and include lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. The Celebration of the Spirit Coalition partner organizations represent a variety of faith traditions, including Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Unitarian Universalist, Pagan, Wiccan, and Earth Religions. It celebrates the diversity of these communities as well as their common bonds. Our annual service demonstrates the breadth, depth, and sincerity of our faith, exposing the lie that right-wing fundamentalists have a monopoly on faith and religion.
We take pride that our community expresses its religious faiths in a myriad of ways, each sacred and revered with years of tradition. People of many different sexual and gender orientations are part of these faith-based communities, but sometimes excluded from them because of their differences.
For many years the Celebration of the Spirit Coalition has brought together, through its Pride Week Interfaith Service, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight people of differing faiths, to give voice and welcome to those excluded by others.
The coalition is the successor to WAG/LIA and has held major interfaith services celebrating Pride Week and other major LGBT occasions since the early 1980s. It has cosponsored a series of cultural and educational seminars, discussions, and events to improve the understanding of, and appreciation for, the diversity within our metropolitan area. Together we expand the dialogue among the many faith communities and ethnic backgrounds represented. Our efforts show the unique ability of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people of faith to transcend the walls created by orientation, race, religion, and gender expression. We are proud of our interfaith service creating an ever-expanding celebration of spirituality.
For more information, contact:
Charles Keener — Ckeener20005@aol.com
Allan Armus —
cotsc.gw@verizon.net, (703) 525-4261.