Religious leaders ask legislators to pass ENDA, federal hate crimes law

"The sacred texts of my faith tradition teach clearly that God upholds the most vulnerable among us, and there are few more vulnerable than those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community," Dr. Erin Swenson, a transgender woman and Presbyterian minister from Atlanta, said at an April 17 press conference on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Swenson, who also serves as executive director of the Southern Association for Gender Education, was one of nine featured speakers at the clergy event, which was spearheaded by the Human Rights Campaign and included 220 clergy members from all 50 states.