Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network
What You Can Do
2013 UPDATE
With the General Assembly back in session in Harrisburg, it is time for members of the LGBT community to step up and show our support for legislative changes we feel are both important and vital.
Equality Pennsylvania is committed to making sure you know what that legislation is and when it is introduced. The issue of outlawing Hate Crimes in Pennsylvania remains on the top of our agenda, and it is time for you to let your voices be heard on this important issue.
In the House Representative Brendan Boyle has introduced House Bill (HB) 177 and in the Senate Senator Jim Ferlo has introduced Senate Bill (SB) 42. Both bills reinstate the language into the Pennsylvania Crimes Code to expand the offense of ethnic intimidation to include malicious acts directed toward individuals based on their sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Both bills deserve our support and need cosponsors to move. And that’s where you come in.
Today, call your House member and tell them to cosponsor HB 177 and your Senator and tell them to cosponsor SB 42.
Stand With Us On The Side Of Love:
We believe that homophobia, not homosexuality, is a sin. Love is a gift from God. No loving God would give anyone a gift in order to punish or humiliate them. The covenant of marriage is a sacred trust between two individuals. Any couple able to forge that bond deserves the legal benefits of marriage as well as the ability to express that sacred trust freely and equally in our society.
Marriage Equality
"Today, our Unitarian Universalist faith has long since taken the lead among all other denominations with respect to Gay rights. We have hundreds of openly Gay ordained clergy. We have solemnized thousands of Gay union services. It is right that we should once again take the lead with regard to extending the full rights and privileges of marriage to all our citizens."
—Rev. Forrest Church (from his sermon The Meanings of Marriage)
Non-Discrimination
Believing that our First Principle, respecting "the inherent worth and dignity of every person," applies equally to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA) supports full equality for Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and/or Transgender (BGLT) people.
Unitarian Universalism has intentionally reached out to BGLT people and their families. In 1973, we established the Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Concerns. Unitarian Universalism is one of the few religions that ordains openly BGLT clergy who participate fully in our faith community. Many of our congregations have completed a Welcoming Congregation program to increase understanding and inclusiveness.
The UUA also works to protect the civil and legal rights of BGLT people and families on the national level, while Unitarian Universalist (UU) legislative ministries, social justice groups, congregations and individuals across the country work at the state and local levels. The following are the issues upon which we focus:
We invite you to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and our commitment to BGLT equality.
Have Your Voice Heard in Harrisburg: Sign Here!
Just do it!
Contact your elected officials.
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