WASHINGTON - Interfaith Alliance President Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy issued the following statement celebrating the growing trend of same-gender marriage legalization and expressed concern about the corresponding trend of religious freedom exemptions:

It is thrilling to watch the wave of states enacting marriage equality laws continue to move across the nation, with Delaware and Minnesota being the latest to do so. Still, I wish that the inclusion of religious exemptions—even those which are benign—were not part of this continued trend. I continue to believe the First Amendment and existing laws already protect religious freedom, and that ensuring the civil rights of LGBT Americans is not at odds with respecting religious freedom. Yet, it is still a victory when more government entities recognize that our civil laws on marriage cannot continue to be based on one theological perspective of who can or should be allowed to marry.