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.

Rev. Elizabeth Bukey is our first openly gay minister. She writes, “my experience of coming out as queer overlapped and intertwined with a deepening spiritual life and faith in a Love greater than myself. I use this experience as a touchstone in my ministry, reminding me of the gifts of spiritual depth, owning one’s own story, and working for the liberation of all people.”

Resources

Gender and Inclusion at First Church JP: Pronouns
“A Twenty-First Century Gender 101” by Zr. Alex Kapitan (pdf)
“How to Raise Happy, Healthy Transgender Kids” by Kristina R. Olson and Katie A. McLaughlin, Los Angeles Times.
“10 Myths About Non-Binary People It’s Time to Unlearn” by Adrian Ballou, Everyday Feminism.