"It is just for Jews to be involved in the queer rights movement and it is essential that all Jews are allowed to be engaged in Judaism, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity." Said Vanessa Prell, Executive Director of NUJLS, a national student organization for queer identified Jews.
Love and acceptance were the overarching theme of the DC event Tuesday night, "Together in Pride" -- part of the Capital Pride 2007 schedule. Together in Pride included participation from a diversity of queer-affirming religious perspectives. Speaking at the event included clergy or lay leadership of congregations of Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Unitarian Universalists, Episcopalians, Baptists, Wiccans, Buddhists, Pagans, Native Americans, Lutherans, and ecumenical African America groups.

Bishop Rusty Smith of the Evangelical Anglican Church in America delivered the Keynote address where he took the opportunity to speak out against tolerance and speak in favor of God's universal love for all of creation.
"Contemporary Society has handed us a lie" said Smith, " Contemporary Society has told us that the answer to diversity is tolerance. Tolerance is not love - tolerance does not build bridges." Smith joked that if a lover came home one night and said, "honey, I really tolerate you!" -- the relationship may end sooner than expected! Bishop Smith continued that, "God wants us to be loved, not tolerated. Tolerance was never spoken from the lips of God."

Smith concluded with a plea: "let us not invoke tolerance as the bridge that will connect us - love is the only bridge.