On July 7, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor will join many individuals, churches and synagogues in Bangor and Brewer to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the death of Charles O. Howard.

Twenty years ago, Charlie, an out, gay man, was taunted by three young men, ridiculed, beaten and thrown off the State Street Bridge. Charlie drowned, the victim of a hate crime; the victim of ignorance and prejudice.

The prejudice that exists against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people has been validated by scripture. The Christian Bible and the Hebrew Bible both have verses against homosexuality. They also have verses against adultery and fornication and verses promoting bestiality, incest and stoning. We choose which verses we empower as truth or reject.

Translations of original Hebrew and Greek texts can and have been interpreted to both support and condemn homosexuality depending on the perspective of the interpreter. Human beings are vulnerable to the distortions of our mortal limitations when trying to interpret and represent the heart of God.

I believe that the purposes of scripture and religious practice are to stretch our souls beyond our limitations of ignorance, fear and judgment. All the sacred texts of the world’s religions have passages that can stretch us to be bigger and better or shrink us into a very small, hurtful and judgmental size.

Hearts and souls stretched by faith should demonstrate the capacity to endure more complex and challenging issues without defensiveness or divisiveness. Religious values should be stretching us to embrace difference and celebrate our fellow human beings with love, not promoting hatred or violence.

Jesus preaches love above all, and the apostle Paul’s famous part of the first letter to Corinthians is often in many wedding and services of union: “If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing …”

The Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor is proud that Charlie Howard was a member of our church. As a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, we welcome gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual people to our churches and to our ministry.

Unitarian Universalists have been performing services of unions and weddings for same-gender couples for more than 25 years.

We condemn the hate crimes that took the lives of Charlie Howard, Matthew Shepard and so many innocent others.

We support the Charles O. Howard Memorial Foundation created to erect a permanent monument in Charlie’s honor and to remind us of the violent consequences of hatred and discrimination. The Charles O. Howard Memorial Foundation exists to educate and promote acceptance and equality for all individuals and communities, respect for the dignity and worth of all human beings.

What better service could be offered to our community?

On July 7, please support the foundation in this important work by attending the commemorative events, which begin at 6:30 p.m. at the U.U. Society of Bangor, 120 Park St., above city hall. An interfaith worship service will be followed by a commemorative walk and gathering at the State Street Bridge.

Come to share in this healing and historic event. Come to remember.

The Rev. Elaine Beth Peresluha is minister of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor. She may be reached via bdnreligion@bangordailynews.net. Voices is a weekly commentary by five Maine columnists who explore issues affecting spirituality and religious life.