A 2SLGBTQIA+ Welcoming Congregation

First Unitarian Church explicitly welcomes people who are two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (genderqueer)/questioning, intersex, and asexual/agender plus all other sexual orientations and gender identities (2SLGBTQIA+). We recognize that many 2SLGBTQIA+ people have experienced rejection and pain in other religious settings, so we have to be clear about our welcome. In 1998, we proudly completed the UUA’s Welcoming Congregation program. Welcoming Congregations are committed to being warm and welcoming to all 2SLGBTQIA+ people. First Unitarian is striving for radical inclusion, and creating spaces that honor and support every part of our identities, backgrounds, and experiences. We value diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity and see it as a precious gift. Ours is an inclusive religious community that works for 2SLGBTQIA+ justice and equity as a core part of who we are. We honor intersectionality and strive to be part of the beloved community. All of who you are is beautiful, honored, welcome, and will be affirmed and supported when you step through our doors.

Our church is constantly working on the ongoing goal of yearly renewal of our Welcoming Congregation special designation. We continue to learn and grow as we welcome diverse individuals and families. The UUA website provides additional information on the Welcoming Congregation program.

As a Welcoming Congregation, we pledge to:

• honor the lives of all people and equally affirm displays of caring and affection without regard for sexual orientation or gender identity
• celebrate diversity by using inclusive language and content in worship and our religious exploration program
• incorporate an understanding of the experience of 2SLGBTQIA+ persons throughout all of our programs, including religious exploration
• affirm and celebrate 2SLGBTQIA+ issues, history, and days/weeks/months of observance
• affirm peoples’ gender identities and conduct transgender/non-binary/genderqueer re-naming ceremonies
• affirm marriage equality and conduct weddings for all 2SLGBTQIA+ people
• respect and use everyone’s pronouns and share our pronouns with each other, ask an usher for pronoun stickers for name tags
• ensure restroom comfort and safety, all are welcome to use the restroom that best fits their gender identity and/or where they feel safe, there are all-gender restrooms on each floor of our building
• advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ people, promoting justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society. We speak out when the rights and dignity of 2SLGBTQIA+ people are at stake.

We recognize that there’s always something more to learn and remain open to deepening our understanding of the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ people.