The Unitarian Universalist Association, a
liberal
faith group in the U.S., and the
lesbian, gay, and bisexual community (LGB):
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is a liberal
religious organization, serving the "UU" congregations in North America. Its churches
and fellowships total approximately 250,000 members. The UUA was formed in 1961-MAY-11
from the merger of the Unitarian and Universalist Churches. They have long been active
promoters of equal rights for all, having been very prominent in the fight against
segregation, for access to abortion, and for equal rights for women. They continue this tradition by advocating equal rights for
gays and lesbians, including the right to marry.
The UU Association was the first large religious organization in North America to
welcome homosexuals and bisexuals as full members, eligible to become clergy. They were
also the first major religious group to open an office to in support of equal civil rights
for (and social acceptance of) Gays and Lesbians. This has expanded in recent years to
include both Bisexual and transgender people. In the past, they have been
viewed as one of the most liberal of the large Christian denominations. Currently, only about
10%
of their members consider themselves to be Christians; many do not consider them
a Christian group.
In 1970, their General Assembly passed a resolution to oppose laws which criminalized
some forms of adult consensual sexual activity, which discriminated against gays and
lesbians in employment, and which restricted US government issuance of security
clearances, visas and citizenship. This led to the creation of an Office on Gay
Affairs in 1973
In 1977, the General Assembly passed a resolution calling on its congregations to fight
misinformation being disseminated against homosexuals. A second resolution
called for an end to persecution and intolerance of gays.
In 1980, they passed a resolution urging the UUA to help openly homosexual
and bisexual clergy find postings.
In 1984, they passed a resolution affirming the use of "services of union" to recognize committed same-sex relationships.
In 1987 they called upon the UUA to promote the annulment of sodomy laws and
the creation of laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.
In 1993, they publicly protested North Carolina's anti-sodomy laws. the General
Assembly also formally endorsed the March on Washington for Lesbians, Gay and Bisexual
Equal Rights and Liberation."
In 1994, they supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which
would prohibit discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation.
In 1996, prior to the UUA General Assembly meeting in JUN in Indianapolis IN, the UUA
Board of Trustees and the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association had
voted in favor the legalization of same-sex marriages. At the General Assembly meeting a Resolution
of Immediate Witness in support of the legalization of same-sex marriages was
presented to the delegates. Couples who had been joined in a Ceremony of Union were
specifically invited to attend and be recognized. The resolution noted that for the
previous 26 years, the UUA had "adopted numerous resolutions... supporting equal
rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, including support for
Ceremonies of Union between members of the same sex". They urged its
congregations to "take an affirmative position in support of the value of marriage
between any two committed persons, whether of the same or opposite sexes, and to make
those positions known in their home communities." The resolution passed with only
a few dissenting votes among the approximately 1700 delegates.
Sponsored link.
In 1997, they passed a resolution encouraging the patronage of businesses
that have policies of non-discrimination on the bases of sexual orientation and
gender identity.
On 2004-MAY-20 same-sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts . Unitarian Universalist
churches in the state took a major role in solemnizing same-sex
marriages, and celebrating the availability of marriage to same-sex
couples for the first time in the U.S.
Interweave
Interweave Continental, Inc is an organization affiliated with the UUA and composed of
Unitarian Universalist members. They are "dedicated to the spiritual,
political, and social well-being of Unitarian Universalists who are confronting
oppression as lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender persons, and their
heterosexual allies; and facilitates the celebration of the culture and lives of
its members. who promote Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender concerns." 2
References:
- The UUA has prepared a list of resolutions produced by its General
Assembly on a variety of human sexuality topics from 1963 to the present
time. See: http://www.uua.org/
- Interweave has a home page at: http://qrd.tcp.com/
Copyright © 2004 to 2015 by Ontario Consultants on
Religious Tolerance
Original posting: 2004-MAY
Latest update : 2015-JUL-26
Author: B.A. Robinson
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