Stories of Courageous Love
Recognizing those whose words and deeds exemplify the values of inclusion, diversity, community, and equality.
Click on the hearts below to read stories of courageous love:
Crystal Emery
New Haven, CT
"My sister-friend and colleague, Crystal Emery never fails to remind me that it is up to us – each of us -- to dismantle notions and..."
Lifted up by: Janice Johnson
Flor
Phoenix, AZ
"In an aid station for deportees just inside the Mexican border in Nogales, I met Flor. She was eager and proud to practice her English...."
Lifted up by: Dea Brayden
Bill and Dolores Deitz
Brewster, MA
"Courageous love really is everywhere. My partner, Jonathan, and I spent the holiday with his wonderful family. As a blizzard swirled..."
Lifted up by: Dan Furmansky
Bernice Melov
Kill Devil Hills, NC
"June 12, 1919 – December 18, 2010
This morning, my mother’s life came to a peaceful end at her residence at Spring Arbor of..."
Lifted up by: Steve Melov
Donna RedWing
Evergreen, CO
"I met Donna in 1992, just after a horrific anti-gay ballot measure in Oregon was narrowly defeated. The initiative would have inserted..."
Lifted up by: Meg Riley
Rev. Dan Larsen
Woodstock, IL
"The Rev. Dan Larsen is the usual suspect. Recently retired from a 19 year ministry at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Woodstock,..."
Lifted up by: Patrick Murfin
Eve Friedli
Rochester, MN
"A year or 2 ago my daughter Emma asked me who was the most inspiring person I knew. Without hesitation I said, "Eve of course."
I..."
Lifted up by: Jennifer Feinberg
Zach Wahls
Iowa City, IA
"This February, the Iowa House voted 63-37 to approve House joint Resolution 6, a constitutional amendment that would ban not just marriage..."
Lifted up by: Dan Furmansky
Andrea Jones
Baltimore, MD
"One afternoon about four years ago my friend Andrea listened to a story told by a student at Johns Hopkins University. Andrea works..."
Lifted up by: Jonathan Wood
Linda Stout
Belchertown, MA
"Linda Stout grew up in North Carolina, daughter of a "mill-town girl" and a tenant farmer, later a mill worker. She is a 13th generation..."
Lifted up by: Susan Leslie
Theresa (Schmidt) Liebmann
Akron, OH
"My grandmother grew up Catholic in Hungary, and given away in an arranged marriage to a man who beat her and expected her to maintain..."
Lifted up by: Jeff Liebmann
Catherine Lynch
Hendersonville, NC
"PFLAG honored Catherine Lynch as a person who exemplifies the characteristics of what if means to stand on the side of love. Catherine..."
Lifted up by: Jerry Miller
Helen Bishop
Hendersonville, NC
"The second award goes to Helen Bishop. She was one of the people who worked tirelessly to produce workshops sponsored by Love Welcomes..."
Lifted up by: Jerry Miller
Michigan UU Social Justice Network
Royal Oak, MI
"
On January 25th, the Michigan UU Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) LGBT Advocacy Task Force testified before the Michigan Civil Rights..."
Lifted up by: Randy Block
Estavan Martinez
Rochester, MN
"Estavan is from Nicaragua. A living wage is difficult to come by in the poorest country of Central America, so he left his family..."
Lifted up by: Mike McMullin
Brian D. Gumm
Silver Spring, MD
"
Last fall, I received a letter from Brad Becker, who is the Executive Director of the California-based GLBT National Help Center...."
Lifted up by: Darryl Gumm
Lynne Jackson
Albany, NY
"We are giving the Award to Lynne Jackson who has been an activist in Albany for over 30 years. She was a co-founder of Save the Pine..."
Lifted up by: Chuck Manning
Phil Kroner
Wauwatosa, WI
"On January 24, 2011, I stood with Philip Kroner, a member of the School Board of the Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Public Schools as he presented..."
Lifted up by: The Rev. Suzelle Lynch
Deb Hardy & Kerry Mullen
Gloucester, MA
"In May of 2004 the radio was full of retrospective on the struggles and events which led to the US Supreme Court decision in Brown..."
Lifted up by: Wendy Fitting
Joan Nelson
San Rafael, CA
"When Joan Nelson become a Unitarian Universalist she did it with her whole heart. She can't stand to see anyone hungry or homeless...."
Lifted up by: Jennifer Gennari
Muriel Roberts
Pocatello, ID
"Muriel has been my mentor and role model since I became committee chair of the Welcoming Congregation Committee of the PUUF in Pocatello..."
Lifted up by: Diane Michel
Alejandro Grimaldi Rivera
Santa Barbara, CA
"February 2011
Our story began in February of 2007 when I first met Alejandro on the internet, or I should say when he first found..."
Lifted up by: Bryan Reinhard
Fred Richter
Statesboro, GA
"This "story" was included in the nomination of Dr. Fred Richter, who received our first Standing on the Side of Love Award on Saturday,..."
Lifted up by: Jane Page
UUA General Assembly
Seattle, WA
"We seem to have somehow lost sight of the fact that the UUA General Assembly, meeting in Seattle, WA in June of 1970 affirmed Alternative..."
Lifted up by: Rev. Marvin Evans
UUA General Assembly
Seattle, WA
"We seem to have somehow lost sight of the fact that the UUA General Assembly, meeting in Seattle, WA in June of 1970 affirmed Alternative..."
Lifted up by: Rev. Marvin Evans
An 8th Grade Girl
North Wales, PA
"A long while back -- say circa 1973 -- a new student came to our school. His name was Greg. He was born without arms and wore the old-fashioned..."
Lifted up by: Pam Kennedy
Ben Conrad
Jersey City, NJ
"My son, Ben, was born to two people who were raised in Iowa in the 50s and 60s, where and when homosexuality was not a word! We didn't..."
Lifted up by: Kate Snow
Betsy Parsons
Portland, ME
"Betsy Parsons Receives “Love” Award
As part of the Unitarian Universalist Association's Standing on the Side of Love celebrations..."
Lifted up by: Connie Cross
Betsy Parsons
Portland, ME
"Betsy Parsons Receives “Love” Award
As part of the Unitarian Universalist Association's Standing on the Side of Love celebrations..."
Lifted up by: Connie Cross
Nancy Fordyce
Versailles, KY
"Doris Niles is a mentally challenged woman who lives in a group home with others who can not communicate on her level. She loves coming..."
Lifted up by: Rev. Cynthia Cain
Rebecca Self
Lexington, KY
"Rebecca is the Education Director at Seedleaf where her focus is on education and community outreach. After starting her teaching..."
Lifted up by: Terese Pierskalla
Geoff Young
Lexington, KY
"Our SOSL honoree Geoff Young is a strong advocate for human rights issues, environmental awareness, and most of all, pacifism. He..."
Lifted up by: Sarah Herbener
Chartis Tebbetts
Cohasset, MA
"February 13, 2011
Standing on the side of LOVE at First Parish in Cohasset, Massachusetts, five members of the congregation stood..."
Lifted up by: Shirley Wallace
Mildred Chestney
Brewster, MA
"My grandmother, Mildred Chestney, was a young woman then, and along with the times, she was married to a verbally abusive husband who..."
Lifted up by: Carla Wood
no one person
Hyattsville, MD
"Members of Paint Branch UU Church join with other community residents of the greater Hyattsville, Maryland area in support of students..."
Lifted up by: Diane Teichert
Carina Morris
Miller Place, NY
"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..."
Lifted up by: Juliana Morris
Katie Miller
Findlay, OH
"A study by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law found that roughly 14,000 service members have been discharged since the..."
Lifted up by: Karla Sasse
Laura Arnold-Andrade
San Diego, CA
"My name is Karlynn Keawalani Arnold-Andrade. I am a native of Southern California, currently residing in the United Kingdom. If you..."
Lifted up by: Karlynn Arnold- Andrade
Melissa Myers
Selinsgrove, PA
"This is a story about two women, Juli and Melissa.
We were married on 28 September 2007 in Niagara Falls, NY, one year and three..."
Lifted up by: Juli Myers
Dean Genth
Mason City, IA
"Two good friends from northern Iowa (Mason City) got married in the town park when same sex marriage became legal in Iowa. The whole..."
Lifted up by: Larry Schlatter
CRUNNY Cluster
Albany, NY
"I just left the NY State Capital. Our cluster's Standing on the Side of Love campaign has been working in support of passing legislation..."
Lifted up by: Kevin O\'Connor
Debra Vigliano
Greensboro, NC
"Debra Vigliano created the Young Peacemaker Award because it is her belief that there are many middle school-age youth who exemplify..."
Lifted up by: Bobbijean Spellman
Bull Run Unitarian Universalists
Manassas, VA
"I am so proud of my church, proud of the members and friends who make up the congregation of the Bull Run Unitarian Universalists in..."
Lifted up by: Jill Grissom
Standing on the Side of Love
Salt Lake City, UT
"This is a followup to a Story you ran quite some some ago about my wife being in deportation. I had the oportunity of speaking at your..."
Lifted up by: Larry Love
Susan
Phoenix, AZ
"Today was a day I felt the justice system actually worked. A fair ruling was made towards several "criminals" who participated in civil..."
Lifted up by: Jessica Lynn
Julie
Hallberg, VA
"This is a story of possibilities, as well as a cry for help.
My friend, Julie found a KKK flier in her predominantly white neighborhood...."
Lifted up by: Walter Clark
Tania and Deborah
Savannah, GA
"At the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Va., we had a service honoring all our veterans the Sunday after the repeal of Don't..."
Lifted up by: Carlton Smith
Judy Rickard
San Jose, CA
"Because I cannot sponsor my wife for immigration, we have to be separated - torn apart - for months at a time. Many others have our..."
Lifted up by: Judy Rickard
Micheal
Chicago, IL
"As the time of the holidays quickly approach, I think back on this story, the same way I do every year at this time. All my life it..."
Lifted up by: Gregory Stringer
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North Georgia
Conregations, GA
"Seven of North Georgia's UU congregations organized a float for the Atlanta Gay Pride Parade held Oct.9, 2011. The float had the Standing..."
Lifted up by: AJ Wolff
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II,
Greensboro , NC
"Rev Dr Barber spoke at the NC Equality Dinner last Saturday night 11/12/2011. He tore the roof off the place with his sermon (I don't..."
Lifted up by: Steve Pearsall
Robert E \\
West Union, OH
"My son wrote my Dad's eulogy in 2006 and told a story I had never heard. In the mid-nineties, Rob was driving Daddy's surveying station..."
Lifted up by: M S Moss
Dustin Pearce
Fullerton, CA
"I was raised in a strict religious household. I turned 18 in 1998 and always took advantage of my right to vote. In 2000 I had the..."
Lifted up by: Leilani Pearce
Stephen H. Fritchman
Los Angeles, CA
"In 1950, First Unitarian Church from LA hosted the Mattachine Society, one of the first gay support groups in the country. Stephen..."
Lifted up by: Terry Lowman
Gordon Hartman
San Antonio, TX
"Excerpts quoted from the Morgan's Wonderland website -
"The inspiration for Morgan’s Wonderland originated in 2006 when philanthropist..."
Lifted up by: Michael Lopez
First Unitarian Church of Alton
Alton, IL
"News article at http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/church-65636-phelps-zandt.html
Names..."
Lifted up by: Khleber M. Van Zandt V
UU Congregation
Green Valley, AZ
"“Standing on the Side of Love”, Green Valley UUs support the local Samaritan organization whose primary mission is to save the..."
Lifted up by: Kay Cogswell
Mary McClary
Andover, MA
"After working tirelessly to create and support a domestic abuse hotline (See below) Mary McClary is now setting up a clothing shop..."
Lifted up by: Donna Cloney
Zach Wahls
Iowa City, IA
"On April 22 Zach Wahls received the Courageous Love Award from his home congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City..."
Lifted up by: Sally Hartman
Melva Okun, Kathy Jooss and Laurie McDonald
Chapel Hill, NC
"Even before the Coalition to Protect All North Carolina Families was formed, members of the Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian..."
Lifted up by: Ruth Gibson
Pablo Cruz
Phoenix, AZ
"Immigrant
In Phoenix construction business,
illegal Mexican workers are often referred to as amigos. (friend). This is a story..."
Lifted up by: Herb Lowrey
Unitarian Universalists
Bloomington, IN
"For Immediate Release
Date: 8-8-2012
Contact: Erin Hollinden 812-320-8607 ehollinden@yahoo.com
Islamic Center and Unitarian..."
Lifted up by: Erin Hollinden
Robert Murphy
Falmouth, MA
"It's estimated that 80% of the cleaning crew workers in Rhode Island, eastern Massachusetts, and New Hampshire are Latino immigrants...."
Lifted up by: Helen Dalzell
Theresa Petrey
Ellensburg, WA
"To see IWJ letter delivery story, please see comment section below the KIMA news video.
KIMA: http://www.kimatv.com/news/local/Black-Friday-Walmart-protest-180651831.html
KNDO:..."
Lifted up by: Robert Beal
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth
Falmouth, MA
"The climate change discussion is changing. Religious organizations are being called upon to respond to hurricanes, droughts, record..."
Lifted up by: Robert Murphy
Angel/Saint
Elkhorn, WI
"I was waiting inside a public building with my mother and sister. We were there for our own problems, but this women walked in with..."
Lifted up by: Rebecca Brown
Esther Attean & Denise Altvater
Penobscot Nation, ME
"The Winthrop Area Ministerial Association, Senator Patrick Flood (R) and Representative Craig Hickman (D) host a MLK Speaker Breakfast.
Speakers:..."
Lifted up by: Carie Johnsen
Don Morrison
Bismarck, ND
"Don Morrison currently serves as the Executive Director of the Dakota Resource Council. For years, Don has served as a courageous statewide..."
Lifted up by: Molly Brooks
Helene Lightbourne
New York, NY
"Helene was a shining role model for me. She took a tough path, including doing the hard work to receive a nursing degree. This was..."
Lifted up by: Elizabeth Diniakos
Elyce Picciotti
New Orleans, LA
"I have a story about an amazing woman who introduced my partner and I to the Unitarian Church. Oh that is so mundane a topic, you might..."
Lifted up by: Elizabeth Jenkins
Hendricks County Alliance for Diversity
Danville, IN
"The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Hendricks County honors the Hendricks County Alliance for Diversity with the Courageous..."
Lifted up by: Karen Cravotta
Toi Derricotte
Pittsburgh, PA
"What the hell am I doing
hugging a white man in an apron?
I said it to myself--but out loud!--so that
he pushed me away slightly:
What..."
Lifted up by: Bill Hilton
Dalia
Shevin, VT
"Dalia Shevin dreamed up, raised money for and manifested this beautiful, meaningful, powerful love-letter writing event for the people..."
Lifted up by: Llora Kressmann
Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
"During its February 3, 2013 services, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach, under the leadership of the Reverend Mitra Rahnema,..."
Lifted up by: Cynthia Case
Man In the Waiting Room
New Orleans, LA
"RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
Well, I am not necessarily a compassionate type person naturally, although I think I do okay. But I sometimes..."
Lifted up by: Elizabeth Jenkins
kim king
Sardis, MS
"My name is Kim and I am the mother a trans-female. She was born with all the male organs but always had very feminine traits from the..."
Lifted up by: Kimberly King
Enrique Morones
San Diego, CA
"The UUFSD Social Action Committee is partnering with Border Angels on an ongoing immigration reform project. The project involved a..."
Lifted up by: Irving Himelblau
Laura Juarez
West Des Moines, IA
"Hi, my story starts as a love story. I fell in love with a man who grew up in Mexico. We married and I got to travel to Mexico several..."
Lifted up by: Laura Juarez
Dave and Joe McGrath
Idaho Falls, ID
"Dave and Joe McGrath are a father and son from neighboring Ammon, Idaho. Dave's a former Army Ranger and an Eagle scout, and a twin..."
Lifted up by: Lyn Stangland Cameron
Vashon Island Unitarian Fellowship
Vashon, WA
"Over the last two years a group from Vashon Island Unitarian Fellowship has supported the Washington New Sanctuary Movement in monthly..."
Lifted up by: Charles Torrey
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