There is much to celebrate! Unitarian Universalism has been an intelligent, loving, and committed leader in LGBTQ justice. We have supported radical shifts in gender roles for 200 years. We ordained the first woman in protestantism in the United States, and have many female UU ancestors to thank for the women’s suffrage movement (not to mention the mental health system and the red cross!). We have been a safe haven for LGBTQ people for decades, and are miles ahead of even leftist Christianity in terms of acceptance and ordination of LGBTQ ministers. Most recently, our decades of work for LGBTQ justice culminated in the ground shaking legalization of equal marriage.
Card made for congressperson by a child in Rose’s RE class about marriage equality.
Yes, Unitarian Universalism has been a fantastic support to the LGBTQ movement, but there is more work to be done. LGBTQ people face incredible hate and discrimination that is untempered and even fueled by legalization of marriage. People face difficulties that range from micro-aggressions and hate speech to threats, vulnerabilities to the police, isolation (especially in rural communities) and attacks or rape.
As we face one issue of justice, all too often we find it inextricably intertwined with all the other injustices. LGBTQ people continue to face discrimination well beyond that of the general population, and LGBTQ people of color even more so. Hearing of a murder of a Transwoman is not uncommon, and hearing it went investigated just as rare. As one of the clear religious leaders in the world for LGBTQ justice today, we must push forward and use our platform to educate and activate our communities to continue supporting and fighting for the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people. This is a question of love: how can we live deeper into our own standard of Standing on the Side of Love? It is our task, as lovers and supporters of LGBTQ people and LGBTQ people ourselves to learn from our own slogan of love and expand outward: queering the boundaries between ourselves and others, giving and receiving love in all directions as a deep expression of our faith.