Blog
The Lame Duck is Our Best Chance
Nov 17, 2010
The Rev. Sarah Lammert is the Director of Ministries and Faith Development for the Unitarian Universalist Association
After years of talking about how the military’s discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy must end, it has finally come down to the next few weeks. If the Senate is going to act to repeal this law, they must act now, before a more conservative Congress takes over in 2011.
As the UUA’s Director of Ministries and Faith Development, I serve as the Military Endorser for our faith, meaning that I vouch for the character and professional ministry standing of individuals interested in serving as military chaplains. Currently, there are thirteen UU ministers who serve in this capacity, offering spiritual counseling, and our special message of love and unity, to service members and their families.
I would love to see hundreds of UU chaplains serving in the field. Yet how can I, in good conscience, push a large scale recruitment effort of our seminarians, knowing that because of DADT, they will either be forced to deny who they are, or collude with the denial of full equal rights for queer people who serve alongside them? It is a conundrum indeed!
Please act now by urging your senators to push for repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell during the lame duck session.
Click here to send a message today.
A recent Pentagon study concluded that the United States is ready to abandon DADT. Apparently “asking and telling” – having gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals serving honestly– is not a big deal. It is, however, a big deal to be asked to lie about who you are, and who you love, or risk losing your career.
Just ask Retired Commander Beth F. Coye, U.S. Navy. Beth recently told me:
“At this very moment the Senate is deciding whether to include repeal of DADT in its lame duck agenda. For me, and others affected by this inane U.S. law and military policy toward gays and lesbians, I respectfully ask my UU family to fight hard at this critical time. I have spoken personally with many young men and women who were “asked” to leave their military; it’s a wrenching, sad experience, as you might imagine, to be fired from the military. Or, as in my own situation, to decide that I cannot live the lie anymore!”
When you are dealing with all of the other stressors of military life, away from loved ones, a crisis of faith can only be exacerbated when you are forced to lie about your very identity. Did you know that some 50% of soldiers lose their faith in combat situations? Whatever your feelings about our military, we can all be proud of those who are risking their lives, as well as the UU ministers who tend to the spiritual health of our soldiers. We can do our part to support them by speaking out against DADT.
Please join me, and Beth, in helping to end this shameful law.
I believe that our UU message of unity and love has a particularly transformative potential in the military. I plan to “stand on the side of love” on this issue when I attend the annual Military Endorser meeting in January. I hope by then, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell will be dismantled and a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation will be taking its place.
In faith and hope,
The Rev. Sarah Lammert
Director of Ministries and Faith Development
Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)
P.S. Please also call Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at (202)224-3542 and Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Carl Levin at (202) 224-6221. Urge them to show leadership in repealing DADT during the lame duck session.
More >SB 1070 Phoenix Protestors Face Criminal Justice System with Support & Love
Nov 16, 2010
Today at 12pm, Rev. Susan Frederick Gray of the UU Congregation of Phoenix and Sal Reza of Puente AZ held a press conference to speak about immigrant rights in the United States and deliver the message that any law that separates families is immoral and wrong.
The occasion was the pre-trial hearings for their July 29th arrests during the National Day of Non-Compliance with SB 1070.
Rev. Frederick Gray answering local media questions about the meaning of the chalice.
“When unjust laws are passed, it is the obligation of people of conscience to rise up non-violently against them,” said Rev. Frederick Gray. “Laws that terrorize children and families are immoral. As a mother I know that this is wrong. Any law that creates second-class citizenship for any American, as SB1070 does, is both wrong and immoral. That is why I participated in non violent civil disobedience.”
Rev. Susan Frederick Gray and Puente's Sal Reza
“We need to continue to build solidarity with those who gave up their liberties,” said Reza.
SSL will provide updates as we know more.
Virginia UUs Drown Out Westboro Baptist Church’s Hate Message with Love
Nov 16, 2010
“Thank you Westboro Baptist for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to publicly witness my faith!”
UUs from Virginia didn’t allow the Westboro Baptist Church’s hate messages to go unchecked when the anti-gay group announced they were coming to town. The following are two accounts of today’s peaceful witness for love at a local high school:
I wanted to report that today’s peaceful witness on the side of love at Woodbridge High School in Virginia was well attended, respectful, and joyous. Over a dozen members of the Bull Run Unitarian Universalist Church quite literally stood on the side of love across from the Westboro Baptist Church and their signs reading “God Hates Fags” and “Thank God For Dead Soldiers,” among others. We sang, we held signs saying “Standing on the Side of Love” and “God Really Likes You,” and were a firm voice to say that hatred is not representative of our community.
As a result, we’re now prominently in the paper! The News & Messenger has the story as their Page One lead on their website, and likely in tomorrow’s physical paper as well. The link to that story is at http://bit.ly/blEkjD, and features a great lead picture of a Westboro protester in the foreground, and the Standing on the Side of Love banner in the background amongst several hundred people. The standout quote:
“Members of various churches in the region stood around a banner that read ‘Stand on the Side of Love.’ It was part of a campaign called ‘God Really Likes You,’ sponsored by the Bull Run Unitarian Universalists of Manassas. Throughout the country, Universalists stage counter protests every time members of the Westboro church show up to picket.
‘When hate comes to my back door, I have to respond,’ said Melodie Feather of Lake Ridge, a member of the Universalists.”
Additionally, Woodbridge Patch covered the event, with a wonderful quote from our own Paul Chmielewski: http://bit.ly/dCMreE. Take a look at the many wonderful pictures of folks from our congregation bearing witness of love for all people regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or military status.
While we always have things to point to in pride in our lives and in our congregation, we can stand a little taller today, and bear witness that we have a voice, and that our voice matters. I’m so proud of the work we’ve done and continue to do to make this fractured little world a better place for all.
Much love,
Brian Pace
President, Administrative Board of Directors
Bull Run Unitarian Universalists
* * *
On Wednesday morning last week, news broke in Prince William County, VA, that Westboro Baptist Church members were planning to protest at my local high school. No one really knows for certain why our high school was targeted. It might have been because our marching band wore rainbow ribbons on their uniform at a VA State Marching Band Festival in memory of a fellow gay student who had committed suicide. It could be that we have a strong, active ROTC program at our high school. No one knows for certain, but actually it doesn’t really matter. We were on their calendar to protest.
So, when hate threatened to come knocking on my back door, I decided it was time to take action! This is the high school where my older son graduated in 2009 with an advanced degree certificate from the Fine and Performing Arts magnet program and where my younger son currently attends. The principal of Woodbridge High School sent a letter home with the students on Wednesday asking us not to counter protest. He was concerned about the safety of the students and faculty, and he was asking us to talk to our children, explain the situation, and simply ignore the protesters. I understood his concerns and appreciated his request, but I simply could not be silent. If ever my faith would call me to action, this was the time. I simply could not ignore this opportunity to publicly witness my belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
There is not a UU church in Woodbridge, so those of UUs who live in this community must travel at least 20-30 minutes to attend to a UU congregation. My sons have attended the UU Church of Arlington, VA, their entire lives. Now, finally, here was an opportunity for me to be a visible force in my local community. With the help of members of the Bull Run UUs, the UU Church of Arlington, and the Washington Ethical Society, we provided a non-engaging, peaceful presence this morning at Woodbridge High School. We sang songs of love and promise as we held Standing on the Side of Love banners and signs reading “God Really Likes You Too.” Getting there early allowed us to have prominent places of visibility at the school entrances where the buses arrived and where the students who drive enter. Five Westboro Baptist protesters opted to stay on the other side of the 4-lane road. Their voices were drowned out by the noise of the traffic and the honking of the horns by those passing by.
But we were not alone on our side of the road. Alumni of the high school mounted a “Stand together against hate and the Westboro Church” counter protest through Facebook organization. They encouraged participants to bring and donate food items to benefit the Central Virginia Food Bank and contribute to the Elizabeth Glasser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Together with other members of the community, we numbered 200 strong.
The Bull Run UUs also have provided an opportunity for folks to make financial contributions with their God Really Likes You Campaign. Pledge $1, $5, or $20 for every sign the Westboro Baptist church brings with them to Woodbridge High School on Monday morning. Funds will benefit the work of the Northern Virginia chapter of GLSTN (The Gay and Lesbian Independent School Teachers Network). Send your name, e-mail address and per-sign pledge amount to godreallylikesyou@gmail.com. Five Westboro members held 16 signs.
As I reflect on all that happened in under an hour this morning, my heart is filled with hope for I know that my life has been blessed. Thank you Westboro Baptist for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to publicly witness my faith!
- Melodie Feather
You can be queer, AND a person of faith!
Nov 15, 2010
The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at the Unitarian Universalist Association offers the hope of spiritual community in this video for the It Gets Better Project.
We Are Committed to Helping Make it Better Now from UUAYaYA on Vimeo.
“Die-In” Showcases Creative Actions that Highlight Anti-LGBT Animus
Nov 11, 2010
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) vigils, services, and die-ins begin next week to remember and seek justice for those who were murdered because they chose to live as their authentic selves. As you consider planning and participating in local TDOR events, check out this video of a “die-in” that took place recently at Boston’s South Station to see what it looks like and the power is has to make people take notice.
