Dear AWAB Family and Friends,
What an extraordinary election night!
Across the United States, voters turned out in remarkable numbers, sending a powerful message that they long for a different direction for our country. There is much to celebrate, much to be hopeful about, and much to remind us that the voices of ordinary people, joined together, can make an extraordinary difference.
I find myself thinking of the words of the Irish poet Seamus Heaney, who imagined a moment when a long-awaited wave of justice might rise and, as he so beautifully put it, “hope and history rhyme.”
Perhaps we caught a glimpse of that possibility yesterday.
As AWAB pastor and longtime champion for justice, Judge Wendell Griffen, has reminded us: Last night we celebrated. Today we rest. Tomorrow we get back to work.
And there is still so much work to do.
Even as many of us celebrate the election results, we cannot ignore another painful reality. For many of our transgender siblings, this election brought not only hope but also heartbreak.
In states including Arizona and Nebraska, voters approved measures further restricting the rights and participation of transgender people, particularly young people. Similar measures in Colorado and Washington were leading as votes continued to be counted. These efforts target participation in school athletics, access to appropriate facilities, and, in some cases, gender-affirming healthcare.
Think about that for a moment. Even as millions of Americans voted for change, other voters supported measures that further marginalize some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.
We must not allow the joy of one election outcome to overshadow the pain of another.
We also recognize that these struggles extend well beyond the United States. Our AWAB family reaches across North America and around the globe, where questions of human dignity, religious freedom, justice, and equality continue to shape the lives of our congregations and communities.
The late LGBTQ+ activist Marsha P. Johnson reminded us of a truth we dare not forget: None of us fully enjoys our rights until all of us do.
This is why the work of AWAB matters. This is why the witness of our welcoming and affirming congregations matters. And this is why our commitment to the sacred worth and dignity of every human being must never depend upon who wins an election or which political party holds power.
Our calling is greater than any single election. It is rooted in our faith, in the radical and expansive love of God, and in our conviction that every person deserves to live with dignity, safety, freedom, and joy.
So, yes, let us celebrate! Let us give thanks for the voices that were heard, the hope that has been renewed, and the possibilities that lie ahead. But let us also be especially attentive to our transgender siblings. Reach out. Listen. Offer encouragement and support. Remind them that they are seen, loved, valued, and never alone.
And then, together, let us get back to work. Let us continue building churches and communities where welcome is more than a word, affirmation is more than a statement, and justice is more than an aspiration.
To our AWAB family and friends, thank you for your witness, your courage, your advocacy, and your commitment to making this world a more welcoming and affirming place.
AWAB hears you. AWAB sees you. AWAB stands with you.
And to our transgender siblings especially: We will not forget you. We will not abandon you. We will continue standing alongside you. For while we may have witnessed a hopeful wave of change, the longed-for tidal wave of justice has not yet reached every shore.
And until it does, our work continues.
With gratitude, hope, and determination,
Rev. Dr. Brian Henderson
Executive Director