Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender(GLBT) people of faith comprise the largest subgroup in the GLBT community of the United States. The National Religious Leadership Roundtable (NRLR) has been organized to amplify and unify this voice, and counter the efforts of religious extremists. The coalition represent Protestants, Roman Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Muslims and New Age Groups (other religions are also welcome to join). In a nation where polls regularly show religious faith to be widely held, the potential for religious leaders and spiritual organizations to influence public opinion on GLBT rights is great. Any civil rights change that has taken place in the United States has come about through the support of important religious leaders; the most obvious example is the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

The third National Religious Leadership Roundtable (NRLR) was held August 21 - 23, in Colorado Springs, Colorado - a place that some GLBT people call “the belly of the beast.” This dubious title has been bequeathed on Colorado Springs because it is the national headquarters for several political and religious extremist organizations that have waged a war against the basic civil rights of several groups in America, including those of GLBT people.

The conference consisted of three days of workshops, panel discussions, clarifying the by-laws, goals and setting in motion the first projects of the Roundtable. One of these projects, and part of the conference, was a public forum held Monday evening, August 22, entitled “Spirituality & Sexuality: In the Image of God.”

The “Public Event” featured Rev. Jimmy Creech, an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church who was put on trial for holding a covenant ceremony between two women; Rabbi Stephen Foster, from Denver who was active in the fight against Amendment 2 in Colorado; Rev. Carlton W. Veazey, president and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and founder of the Religious Coalition's Black Church Initiative; Rev. Bill Johnson, from the United Church of Christ office in Cleveland, OH; Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of the GLBT-synagogue Congregation Simchat Torah based in New York City, and Rev. Nori Rost, from congregation Pikes Peak Metropolitan Community Church.

Those interesting in hearing the “Public Event,” visit the PlanetOut webpage, dated August 27 and listen in RealAudio over the internet. That address is http://www.planetout.com

The next NRLR is tentatively set for the last week of January 2000, in Orange County, California. The California “King Initiative,” that has received much attention in Utah, will be one of the main topics of discussion and public address at the upcoming Roundtable.

The Roundtable mission statement
The National Religious Leadership Roundtable (NRLR) is an interfaith network of leaders from pro gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) faith, spiritual and religious organizations. We share resources, support one another and work in partnership with other justice seeking groups to:

1. Amplify the voice of pro-GLBT faith organizations in public discourse.
2. Promote understanding of and respect for GLBT people within society at large and in communities of faith.
3. Promote understanding and respect within GLBT communities for a variety of faith paths and for religious liberty.
4. Achieve commonly held goals which promote equality, spirituality and justice.

• Affirmation (Methodist)
• Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons
• AIDS National Interfaith Network
• Al-Fatiha, LGBTQ Muslims
• All Saints Episcopal Church
• American Friends Service Committee (Quaker)
• Americans United for Separation of Church and State
• Black Lesbian & Gay Leadership Forum
• Brethren/Mennonite Council for Lesbian and Gay Concerns
• Christian Lesbians OUT
• Congregation Beth Shimchat Torah (Jewish)
• Dignity/USA (Catholic)
• Disciples Justice Action Network
• Ecumenical Catholic Church Equal Partners in Faith
• Evangelicals Concerned
• Fellowship of Reconciliation
• Gay, Lesbian and Affirming Disciples (GLAD)
• Human Rights Campaign
• Integrity (Episcopal)
• Interfaith Alliance
• Interfaith Assembly
• Interfaith Working Group
• Interweave (Unitarian Universalist)
• Lutherans Concerned
• Methodist Federation for Social Action
• More Light Presbyterians
• National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
• New Ways Ministry
• Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
• People for the American Way
• Q Spirit
• Reconciling Congregation Program
• Soulforce, Inc (Rev. Mel White’s Initiative)
• That All May Freely Serve
• Unitarian Universalist Association
• United Church of Christ
• United Methodist Covenant Relationships Network (CORNET)
• United Fellowship Church
• Univsersal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches
• Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual
• World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Jewish Organizations
• World Council of Churches.