BUFFALO—Episcopal Church leaders in Western New York have sent an open letter to the region’s GLBT community, apologizing for the church’s historical opposition to GLBT rights and for fostering prejudice and violence against GLBTs.

The letter, sent Jan. 11 on behalf of seven Episcopal congregations in the Buffalo area, stated:

“We leaders of Episcopal congregations in Buffalo want to offer our apology and ask forgiveness from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. For centuries the institutional church and organized religion have slandered, tortured, disenfranchised and sometimes murdered members of the community. We ask forgiveness for using our Sacred Scriptures to wrongly justify hatred, bigotry, prejudice and violence against those of different affectional orientation and gender identification, both in the past and, unfortunately, still today.

“As leaders of congregations, some of us openly gay and lesbian, we are humbled and vow to use our influence to change not only our religions but our laws that seek to marginalize the GLBT community.”