Solidarity Stole (Justice for Women Committee)

Justice for Women Committee of the Louisville Presbytery

Our Hearts are linked with yours

Louisville Allies and Friends

(Note: A “signature stole” is one that is covered with the signatures of both gay and straight members of a congregation, denominational governing body, or other organization.  These stoles serve the dual purpose of showing support for LGBT persons, while also protecting their anonymity by including their names as "one among many".)

For decades, some of our strongest allies in the struggle for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the mainline Protestant churches have been local, ad hoc progressive women's committees with names like Justice for Women, Women's Concerns, Women's Ministries, Voices of Sophia, Women and the Church and the like.  These women, who for generations fought their own battles for equality in the church, have been among the first to speak on our behalf.  Their voices have been crucial in denominations where LGBT people have been denied access and the right to speak for themselves.  In the process, these women have helped others to make the connections between sexism, racism and homophobia.  We owe these fierce allies -- including the women of Louisville Presbytery -- a debt of gratitude.

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006