Release

Brethren-Mennonite church group condemns Sen. Eichelberger’s “assault upon gay and lesbian people.”

Statement by Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests says he
“brings shame to himself and to the Church of the Brethren.”

(HARRISBURG, PA)—In a strongly worded statement, a church-based lesbian and gay advocacy group has condemned Senator John Eichelberger’s recent remarks as bringing “shame to himself and to the Church of the Brethren.”

The Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Interests (BMC) issued their statement in response to the growing controversy around Eichelberger’s comments calling LGBT people “dysfunctional” and saying of same-sex couples that “we are allowing them to exist.”

Last week, activists presented Eichelberger a petition with 5,000 names asking for an apology. He refused, saying, “You know where I stand.”

Senator Eichelberger’s state-funded website says that he is a member of First Church of the Brethren. BMC is the LGBT caucus for his denomination, the Church of the Brethren, which prompted their condemnation of Eichelberger. Their website (www.bmclgbt.org) says, “The mission of BMC is to cultivate an inclusive church and society and to care for the Mennonite and Brethren lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and allied community.”

Carol Wise, executive director of BMC, is a former Pennsylvania resident, now based in Minnesota. She called on Sen. Eichelberger “to educate himself and cease his assault upon gay and lesbian people. His uninformed and callous remarks do little to promote understanding and serve only to foster an atmosphere of fear that gives rise to acts of violence and discrimination. Our families, and all families, deserve better.”