We are all religious, spiritual creatures, If you seek a place to grow and to be affirmed, you’re invited to visit a Unitarian Universalist driven to find a pattern of meaning in Unitarian our lives. If you have trouble finding congregation near you. To find one, visit meaning in creeds and commandments www.uua.org/lgbtq/welcoming or call the Universalism of traditional religion, a Unitarian Unitarian Universalist Association at (617) 742- 2100. Universalist congregation may be the place for you.  Here, your own life experience A publication of the Unitarian Universalist counts fully as much as that of any Association’s office of Lesbian, Gay, ancient people. Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Ministries.

 25 Beacon Street Here, the cumulative experience of Boston, MA 02108-2800 all who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, (617) 948-6461 transgender, and/or queer is a sacred [email protected] story that informs our spirituality.  For more resources, visit www.uua.org/lgbtq Here, intuition and our inner creative You are also invited to join Interweave, a capacities count; not just tradition, continental organization of Unitarian church hierarchy, and Bible. Universalists for lesbian, gay, bisexual,  Here, reason and the findings of transgender, and queer concerns. Find out more at www.interweaveuu.org science count.  revised February 2013 A serious spiritual And here, prophetic voices, voices of wisdom and vision, from whatever alternative for source, count. Note: Unitarians and Universalists have their roots  in the “Heresies” of the first centuries that lesbian, gay, bisexual, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioned the ideas that Jesus was somehow more and queer people belong here. Our “divine” than anyone else. In North America, transgender, and queer religious movement belongs to a larger Universalists began denouncing the idea of “hell” future, not to a constricting past. It in the 1770s. Unitarians appeared at about the same individuals and doesn’t belong to the outworn time in New England, as religious and social pronouncements of the bishops or the families reformers. Among the best known were Ralph evangelists of the new right. Our Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Susan B. movement has to do with the Anthony, William Ellery Channing, Julia Ward qualitative evolution of human Howe, and in recent times, Albert Schweitzer. consciousness. Unitarians and Universalists merged in 1961.

Unitarian Universalist spirituality does not women—and of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, The UUA has implemented an affirmative grind out the standard line of prejudice, transgender, and queer ministers. It is not action program to place lesbian, gay, heterosexism, homophobia, and transphobia. surprising that Unitarian Universalists have long bisexual, transgender, and queer ministers in There is a reason. called for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, and our churches. Its presidents have spoken out

bisexual people in church and society. At our against anti-gay foster care policies and other The Unitarian Universalist approach to annual General Assemblies, Unitarian Universal- forms of institutionalized homophobia. Is spirituality is fundamentally different from ists have: Unitarian Universalism completely free of religion based on the idea of “creed” or a homophobia and transphobia? Of course not. 1970 Called for an end to discrimination against But whenever Unitarian Universalists are static “revelation.” We do not say that life’s homosexual and bisexual people. called on to take a position on lesbian, gay, ultimate truth has been revealed in a scripture. We say that together we must seek 1973 Established an Office of Lesbian, Bisexual, and bisexual, transgender, or queer issues, the to understand the meaning of our lives. We Gay Concerns. sentiment is always overwhelming: the gather in a sense of wonder before the human family is one, and the fears and 1980 Called for the UUA to assist in the settlement of hatreds that divide us must be overcome. mystery of life. In our search we have the openly gay ministers. Human loving and human sexuality are also voices and visions of every period and place in the record of human experience from 1984 Recognized and encouraged ministers to perform sacred when shared between members of the which to draw. We have the combined same-gender services of union. same gender. The culture and history of religious traditions of the Unitarians and the bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, and queer 1987 Called for the UUA to support the recession of Universalists, and the life-truth of our own people is important to all of society. “sodomy” laws and to urge UUs not to do people, we who call ourselves lesbian, gay, business with companies that discriminate. Because we believe in the principles of “the bisexual, transgender, and/or queer. If you inherent worth and dignity of every person;” seek a place where minds are free and the 1996 Added “Transgender” to office title. “justice, equity, and compassion in human issues of our lives and times are examined 1996 Called for the UUA to support the legalization of relations;” “acceptance of one another and critically and hopefully, you belong in a same sex marriage. encouragement to spiritual growth in our Unitarian Universalist congregation! congregations;” “the goal of world community 1997 Called for the UUA to support nondiscriminatory Because we aren’t accountable to the Apostle corporate and other business policies. with peace, liberty, and justice for all;” and Paul, to some central ecclesiastical authority, “respect for the interdependent web of all or to an ancient body of dogma, Unitarian 2007 Affirmed the inherent worth and dignity of existence of which we are a part;”* this transgender individuals. affirmation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, Universalists think our own thoughts, always transgender, and queer experience flows valuing the critical questions as much as the 2007 Called for the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” available answers. We are open to new and the passing of the Employment Non- naturally from our tradition of freedom; of knowledge and bold ideas. Ours is a Discrimination Act. creativity; of respect for intuition and reason tradition of strong and prophetic voices and life experience; as well as the wisdom of calling for a larger vision of life. It should not 2010 Called for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, the past. and transgender individuals and encouraged surprise anyone that, of major religious congregations to take certain action on that value. * UUA Statement of Purposes and Principles—an evolving bodies, we have among our professional statement that reflects an evolving consciousness—in its ministers by far the highest percentage of 2012 Added “Queer” to office title. most recent form, adopted in 1984 and amended in 1995.