On only his first days in office, President Joe Biden has already signaled his commitment to serving LGBTQ+ Americans by signing an executive order enforcing LGBTQ+ employment equality. And much like his inauguration ceremony, which included scene-stealing performances from bi icon Lady Gaga and the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, Biden also prioritized LGBTQ+ voices in his inaugural prayer service.
The 2021 National Prayer Service, a virtual interfaith gathering that took place Thursday, featured addresses from a historic number of LGBTQ+ faith leaders, two of which were transgender. Dr. Paula Stone Williams, a pastor at Colorado’s Left Hand Church, read a verse from Isaiah about “[setting] the oppressed free,” while Barbara Satin, faith work director for advocacy group National LGBTQ+ Task Force’s, said a prayer for members of the U.S. military.
Among the other LGBTQ+ faith leaders present were Black, lesbian reverend Dr. Yvette Flunder, presiding bishop at the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, and Black, gay reverend Fred Davie, executive vice president of New York’s Union Theological Seminary. Lesbian rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of New York’s Congregation Beit Simchat Torah also read from Deuteronomy while sitting in front of a rainbow Pride flag.
After the individual messages, Rev. William J. Barber II delivered a sermon at the Washington National Cathedral that also mentioned LGBTQ+ people. “God, grant us wisdom and grant us courage […] every human being created by God, documented or undocumented; gay, straight or trans, young or old,” he said.
Josh Groban, the Clark Sisters, and LGBTQ+ icon Patti LaBelle also gave performances throughout the event, which was described as the “most [LGBTQ+] inclusive inaugural prayer in U.S. history” by Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David.
“This service reflects a critical change in tone away from the cynical use of religion and faith as weapons of division against the LGBTQ community, and instead towards tools of service in the work of justice and inclusion,” David wrote in a statement. He noted that the strong presence of LGBTQ+ faith leaders in the service sent a strong message that “we are integral parts of faith communities and that our continued advocacy for equity is crucial for the work of healing the soul of America.”
You can watch the full service below.
Biden’s inaugural prayer service couldn’t be any more divergent from Donald Trump’s, which included addresses from anti-LGBTQ+ evangelicals like Franklin Graham in January 2017. Graham, the right-wing founder of the discriminatory Samaritan’s Purse organization, has called homosexuality a “sin” multiple times and even allegedly forced volunteers working at his COVID-19 emergency hospital to sign a statement opposing same-sex marriage last year.
The inclusivity of Thursday’s service builds on the progressive line-up at Obama’s inaugural prayer service in 2013, which was the first to feature an openly LGBTQ+ clergy member.
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