Why We Support LGBTQIA+ Rights

UUCC Social Justice Committee stands in solidarity with every person and community resisting racism and bigotry. The chants of the white nationalists against people of color, LGBTQ people, and Jewish people are a reminder that we are all in in this struggle together.

We believe that when gay people are allowed to participate fully in society, it benefits our communities, the economy and millions of American families, gay and straight alike. Winning marriage equality was an important part of ending discrimination, and a defining step toward full equality and inclusion of gay people in American life. But there is still work ahead.

From seniors to youth, our LGBTQ community faces persistent challenges. For example, LGBTQ older adults are less likely than heterosexual elders to have children to look after them as they age – and they’re more likely to live alone. LGBTQ high schoolers report higher rates of dating violence, including sexual assault, than their straight peers. In addition, LGBTQ youth are bullied to a much greater degree (30%) than heterosexual teens (17%), and are significantly more likely to contemplate and attempt suicide.

We are a Welcoming Congregation, recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association. This means we affirm and include people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer at every level of congregational life—in worship, in program, and in social occasions—welcoming them as whole people.

As a Welcoming Congregation we have pledged to:

  • honor the lives of all people and equally affirm displays of caring and affection without regard for sexual orientation.

  • celebrate diversity by using inclusive language and content in worship.

  • incorporate an understanding of the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual,  transgender, and queer persons throughout all of our programs, including religious education.

  • affirm and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer issues and history.

  • affirm marriage equality and conduct same-sex weddings.

  • advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, promoting justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society. We speak out when the rights and dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are at stake.

We recognize that there’s always something more to learn, and remain open to deepening our understanding about the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.

Here are five things we can all do to support our LGBTQ friends and community members:

Be there to talk, and give hugs if possible.
Letting the LGBT people in your life know that you love them or care about them and that you’re there to talk if they need you goes a long way

Be vocal about your support in communities of straight people.
As a straight ally, you often have the ear of the people who most need to hear about loving and respecting LGBT people.

Amplify the voices of LGBT (especially Latinx) people
Often, people who don’t pay attention to LGBT voices will if straight people share those voices.

Get involved in LGBT activism.
To prevent attacks from happening again in the future, we need continued activism. Contact your local LGBT community center, and ask how you can help. There are some LGBT spaces that are only for LGBT people, but there are many spaces where you are needed.

Confront homophobic and transphobic people in your life.
For LGBT people, confronting homophobic or transphobic people can be incredibly dangerous. As a straight ally, you’re in the position to do so with far fewer consequences. Do not tolerate hate speech at work. Don’t tolerate harmful “jokes” at parties or family gatherings. If you see discrimination happening, say something.