A hearty congratulations to Pastor Samuel Chu who was just named Executive Director of the important inter-faith LGBT/straight allies organization, California Faith for Equality. Syd Peterson profiled Chu for LGBT POV last October.
The announcement came from CFE Board President Rev. Neil Thomas, Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Los Angeles:
“Samuel will join us permanently after serving CFE well as our Interim Executive Director. Under his leadership, CFE has grown to a statewide network of congregations, faith-based organizations, and faith leaders committed to equality. As we move forward, CFE will continue to educate, support and mobilize California’s communities of faith to promote equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and to safeguard religious freedom for all Californians.”
Chu, who is straight, said in a press release:
“People of faith have always worked powerfully and provocatively at the intersections of various struggles for justice and equality. I am honored to be part of CFE’s commitment to continuing that tradition as we work for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in California. We know that commitment will require the very best of what people of faith have to offer and contribute — and we look forward to partnering with our secular allies as we work together toward our common goal of equality for LGBT Californians.
It has been my deep belief that faith should always be a force for good — not to be used to harm or to deny a person’s humanity. I am honored to continue to lead California Faith for Equality at this critical moment when we must reclaim this powerful force — not just for those on the religious left or the religious right – but for all people.”
Chu, a first generation immigrant from Hong Kong, China, has served in the Presbyterian Church and is a fellow at the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California. He currently chairs One LA-Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) — one of the nation’s largest networks committed to developing leadership and power for social and economic change. In addition to serving as CFE Executive Director, Chu will also oversee the CFE Action Fund.
One of Chu’s best character traits is that he shows up:
At the WeHo rally after Prop 8 passed
Speaking at a statewide grassroots meeting in San Bernardino on repealing Prop 8
At the Equality California dinner
At the one anniversary of legal marriage equality in California
At Lucy Florence Cafe in Leimert Park the morning the CA Supreme Court upholds Prop 8
In San Francisco outside the federal building before dawn on Day One of the federal challenge to Prop 8
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m just concerned that we will look hypocritical. Why can gay and gay friendly people of faith mix their religion and thei politics when people who oppose gay marriage cannot? If it seems incongrous, it does. We can’t have it both ways. either we have to make the secular argument. or we have to admit that people of faith (even faiths different from our own) have the same rights as we do to participate in the political process.
I’m not sure I follow you.
I don’t think anyone is saying people of faith who use their religion as the basis for making political decisions have no right to do that….THAT would be hypocritical since we’re all about Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Expression. I mean that’s the whole point of refuting Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
I think what’s good about California Faith for Equality and similar groups is that they understand the language and nuances and frame of reference that religious conservatives use as the basis for their argument. Therefore, they are better able to explain our being officially denied our equal rights in a common language.
Besides, it’s just nice to know that the Religious Right – Christians and Catholics in particular, don’t have a total claim on religion or on LGBT people’s right to believe and worship in those religions, too.
I hope that makes sense.
@Joey (and Karen!) — I hope the arguments we are making as people of faith is that we need both freedom of religion and freedom FROM religion in this country.
And it takes people of faith speaking out to make the case that people of faith hold a variety of views on a variety of issues (including gay marriage, divorce, interfaith marriage, a woman’s right to choose, etc) — and NONE of us has the right to write our theology in the Constitution.
What we — California Faith for Equality — have the resources to do is to neutralize the voices coming from the Religious Right insisting they alone speak for “faith based values.”
We have faith based values and they are values of justice, love, compassion and inclusion.