PUTNEY — Putney Friends Meeting wholeheartedly supports the swift passage of the Uniting American Families Act. As we support this legislation, we recognize that this act does not yet complete the struggle for full recognition of the rights of gay, lesbian, and transgendered individuals.
We continue to support the full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. Putney Friends Meeting has held a longstanding objection to unjust laws, such as the Defense of Marriage Act, that violate our religious testimony on equality, rooted in the conviction that there is that of God in everyone and all God's children deserve to be treated with respect and parity.
We support the Uniting American Families Act, but we do so with a deep concern that its requirements will make it difficult for families of smaller means to meet its fees and financial requirements.
We thank Sen. Patrick Leahy for sponsoring this bill, and we encourage our members and others to contact our congressional delegation to support its passage.
We will publicize our support of the passage of this act and our support of the Full Faith Coalition.