Vandals Strip Equality From Church

The word "equality" was cut out of a sign affirming the Hollywood United Methodist Church's stance that it supports marriage equality over the weekend.

The sign, adorned on one of the most gay-friendly churches in Los Angeles, previously said, "All are precious in God's sight. This church supports marriage equality."

"As a church, we do believe in marriage," church leaders said in a statement Monday. "But until everyone -- and that means everyone -- has the right to marry the one you love, regardless of gender, we will proclaim with our hearts and soul, and yes, our banners, that we believe in marriage equality. That's what it means to be peacemakers; to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. As [the church's marketing director Chad Darnell] has said, 'you can cut the word 'equality' out of the sign, but you can't cut the message out of the church.'"

According to the Hollywood Patch, this is the second time in a month that the banner has been vandalized. This sign replaced the first one, which was stabbed multiple times.