Archive for March, 2011

Tell Congress: Stop Defending the Indefensible

2 Comments | Share On Facebook| Tell Congress: Stop Defending the Indefensible Share/Save/Bookmark Mar 31, 2011

Bruce Knotts is a former Foreign Service Officer and the current Executive Director of the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office

The message below went out to Standing on the Side of Love supporters on Thursday, March 31, 2011. You can sign-up for these emails here.

Equal Benefits for Equal Work. That was the motto of GLIFAA (Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies) when I served on their Board of Directors. For 25 years, I served my country as a Foreign Service Officer at the Department of State in American embassies and consulates general in places like Athens, Lusaka, Calcutta, Lahore, Karachi, Khartoum, Nairobi, Abidjan and Banjul.

Bruce Knotts and his husband Isaac

I’m married to Isaac Humphrie. We were married in Canada and our marriage is recognized by the State of New York. However, our marriage is not recognized by the Federal Government because of the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA).

What does that mean to us? My heterosexual colleagues enjoy benefits for themselves, their spouses and children. These health and pension benefits are worth thousands of dollars every year. Despite having done as much or more work than my colleagues and faced as much or more danger in the line of duty, my spouse has no access to my benefits. That means that Isaac has no health benefits and no access to my pension benefits.

It’s time to end institutionalized discrimination based on sexual orientation in this country. Tell Congress it is time to repeal the “Defense of Marriage Act” and restore the rights of lawfully married same-sex couples to receive the protections of marriage under federal law.

Send a message to Congress today to repeal DOMA.

In Nairobi, I survived the terrorist bombing of our embassy in 1998 and earned two awards for heroism, superior honor and meritorious honor, which are among the highest awards that can be given to an American diplomat. While in Abidjan, I learned that there were reports that the Liberian President had sent an assassin with orders to assassinate me. It seems that Charles Taylor believed that I was sending Liberian refugees to the United States (I sent over 7,000 to safety in the United States). Charles Taylor, believed that these Liberian refugees (mostly women and children) would be trained to kill him, so he wanted me dead. I served my country with distinction and honor. In 2007, I retired from the Department of State and took my current position at the Executive Director of the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office in New York City.

While the families of my colleagues enjoy benefits worth thousands, my 25 years of work facing life-threatening danger earns me not a penny in benefits for my family. To add insult to injury, in the State Department, pets (dogs and cats) receive travel benefits up to $1,000 per trip, while same-sex partners receive nothing. We are treated with less value than a dog. It is past time that those who have served this country with courage, and all Americans, receive equal benefits for equal work.

Can you join me to stand on the side of love and help our country move towards a place of inclusion for all families, and respect for all love?

Tell Congress to end marriage discrimination and to repeal DOMA now.

Thank you,

Bruce Knotts
Executive Director
Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office

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Statement by the UUA for Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Protecting the Civil Rights of American Muslims

2 Comments | Share On Facebook| Statement by the UUA for Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Protecting the Civil Rights of American Muslims Share/Save/Bookmark Mar 29, 2011

On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights has scheduled a hearing entitled “Protecting the Civil Rights of American Muslims.” The hearing, called by subcommittee chairman Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), featured a series of witnesses addressing the topic.

The following statement by the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations was entered for submission into the Congressional Record:

March 28th, 2011

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) rejects attempts by some members of Congress to target American Muslims for particular scrutiny based on no other reason than their religious affiliation. The UUA is part of “Shoulder to Shoulder,” an interfaith coalition that stands in solidarity with Muslim Americans whom we recognize to be an integral part of our nation’s history and cultural landscape. As part of the Shoulder to Shoulder coalition, we condemned the hearing convened by Chair of the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Enforcement Rep. Peter King earlier this month. We commend Sen. Richard Durbin and allies for convening a Senate Subcommittee hearing to ensure that the rights and liberties of Muslim Americans are protected.

One of the founding principles upon which the United States was built is freedom of conscience or religious liberty for every person. From our First Amendment guarantee of freedom of religion to the writings of Thomas Jefferson who explicitly stated that “the mantle of [our law’s] protection” be extended to “the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination,” our shared national legacy upholds this right. Unitarian Universalism shares this founding principle. Our Unitarian predecessors, including the nation’s second and sixth presidents John and John Quincy Adams, worked tirelessly to ensure that our society treats all equally, whether based on race or religion. The fourth of our association’s “Seven Principles” affirms that everyone has the right to “free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” In short, just like our nation the faith tradition of Unitarian Universalism is deeply rooted in affirming the right to profess the faith that our consciences call us to profess without fear of political reprisal.

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr prophetically said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” An attack on Muslim Americans is an attack on us all; it is an attack on what it means to be American. We thank you for convening this hearing and trust that you will continue to uphold the rights of all Americans regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation.

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West Point Cadet and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

No Comments | Share On Facebook| West Point Cadet and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Share/Save/Bookmark Mar 23, 2011

A study by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law found that roughly 14,000 service members have been discharged since the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy was implemented in 1993. The study estimated that 66,000 other gay Americans served silently during that time. Katie Miller’s resignation from West Point brought national attention to the plight of gays and lesbians in the U.S. military, and in December, by a vote of 65 to 31, the Senate voted to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Blanchard Valley, in Findlay, Ohio, believes that Katie Miller’s actions helped to bring about the end of DADT. We applaud the courage of Katie and of others who have harnessed love in defense of fairness and equality for all people.

Therefore, as part of the Unitarian Universalist Church’s Standing on the Side of Love campaign, we are honored to present this year’s “Love Award” to Katie Miller, to highlight her efforts to confront identity-based discrimination in the U.S. Military, and to honor her courage in Standing on the Side of Love in the national spotlight.

Lending Love and Support to her Family and Community

No Comments | Share On Facebook| Lending Love and Support to her Family and Community Share/Save/Bookmark Mar 20, 2011

My sister Carina has been a tireless source of support to my family and me. When my mother’s parents moved to Long Island to be closer to our family, Carina was always there – ready to help take them to their doctor’s appointments, take them shopping, or just spend time chatting with my grandmother to keep her company. Last year, when my father’s parents moved back to Long Island, we could all count on Carina to help them feel welcome. Without fail, she’d make her weekly visits to our grandmother to do her hair and help around the house. Throughout all this effort, Carina was our unsung hero. She never asked for much in return and she was never flashy about it, but it was those simple, day-to-day acts of kindness that made
such a difference to all of us. Carina carries this same spirit of humble giving with her into her professional life. She works as an assistant at a preschool for children with developmental disabilities and is in the process of obtaining her teaching certificate so she can continue her work with these children throughout her career. My sister Carina is a true symbol of Courageous Love.

Standing on the Side of Love with the Islamic Community of San Diego

No Comments | Share On Facebook| Standing on the Side of Love with the Islamic Community of San Diego Share/Save/Bookmark Mar 16, 2011

On Feb. 13th several hundred anti-Muslim demonstrators surrounded the Islamic Center of San Diego, California that was holding a fundraiser for a women’s homeless shelter. They shouted at the people going into the event, many of whom were wearing religious dress, to “go home, terrorists out, and we don’t want your Sharia law.” An elected representative said “We can help these terrorists to meet their paradise early. My son is a US marine.”

The Tea Party in Orange County organized this public display of islamophobia. (You can view a video of the event here that was taped by one of the participants at the fundraiser. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has asked everyone to view this video.)

While these displays of hate and intolerance are taking place around our country, many UUs in San Diego have been Standing on the Side of Love with the local Muslim community.

Members of First UU Church of San Diego first connected with the Imam at the Islamic Center of San Diego when they met him at the July 29th Day of Non-Compliance Against SB1070 in Phoenix, AZ. He was wearing a “Muslims for Justice” T-shirt.

They later reconnected back home when Mar Cárdenas visited the Center and introduced herself to several members of that mosque. Two of the Muslim women attended a congregational potluck at Mar’s church the following Wednesday.

47931_1619981784130_1373993297_1670226_3208159_nWhen the mosque received numerous hate-filled threats before Sept. 11th members of several UUs decided to organize a vigil to provide solidarity and support for the Muslim community. Almost 40 UUs answered the call with only a 24-hour notice!

At the vigil, the UUs were invited to participate in the evening prayers and to share a meal afterward.

The next day, Sunday, Imam Taha and Sarah Gonzalez read from the Koran at First UU’s two campuses during worship.

Their partnership continues today as they collaborate in an environmental justice program named Earth•Keepers and in other events taking place around San Diego county.

This partnership has taken on even more importance as House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King (R-NY) convened a Congressional hearing to investigate the loyalty and “radicalization” of American Muslims. Last week in Tennessee, a bill was proposed to make it a felony to follow Sharia law — which would essentially criminalize the practice of Islam in that state.

phoca_thumb_l__hal2819aMost recently, on March 5th, Summit UU Fellowship in Santee, California, a suburb of San Diego, invited Mr. Edgar Hopida from the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to participate in the dedication of their new Peace Pole. Mr. Hopida was one of the guest speakers at that event.

Sarah Paez Gonzalez, ICSD’s Outreach Coordinator, said: “As always your solidarity is priceless. Thank you for standing with me and our community… May God Bless you truly and your ministry of compassion and standing for justice.”

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