Defending gay rights in Uganda, and other UUs in the media

UU minister defends gay rights at Ugandan conference

The Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, senior minister of All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Okla., traveled to Uganda to speak in opposition of a proposed new anti-homosexuality law. (Tulsa World – 2.16.10)

See also: Minister speaking out on bill in Uganda (Tulsa World – 2.13.10) and Ugandan UUs oppose anti-homosexuality bill (uuworld.org - 2.22.10)

'Standing on the Side of Love' on Valentine's Day

A few days before Valentine's Day, GLBT equality supporters held a Standing on the Side of Love rally at State University of New York, Potsdam, part of a nationwide campaign sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association. (video) (News 10 Now – 2.13.10)

The Unitarian Universalists of Sterling, Va., the Neshoba, Tenn., Unitarian Universalist Church, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden, Utah, also held "Reimagining Valentine's Day" events as part of the Standing on the Side of Love Valentine's campaign. (Washington Post – 2.14.10; Memphis Flyer – 2.12.10; StandardNet – 2.12.10)

See also:
Unitarian Universalists push for anti-discrimination laws (StandardNet – 2.15.10)
Ogden urged to pass gay anti-bias ordinances (Salt Lake Tribune – 2.15.10)
Gay-rights push spreading to other Utah locales (Salt Lake Tribune - 2.11.10)

Two Loudoun County, Va., officials—John Stevens and Stevens Miller, both UUs—joined a panel discussion for "Standing on the Side of Love Day," February 14. (Loudoun Independent – 2.10.10)

See also: Church To Host Panel On LGBT Issues (Leesburg Today – 2.12.10)

In related news, someone stole the "Standing on the Side of Love" banner from the Northern Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Cincinnati, Ohio. A link to a short video appears at the top of the story. (kypost.com – 2.10)

On the topic of GLBT equality and Valentine's Day, the Rev. Daniel O'Connell, lead minister at the Eliot Unitarian Chapel in Kirkwood, Mo., writes that "one day, the day will come when marriage fairness will be a given. And 18 year old children off to college will be able to say—there has always been gay marriage." (St. Louis Post-Dispatch - 2.15.10)

'Sexually healthy' ministers, green buildings, and more

The Rev. Kate Lore, social justice minister at the First Unitarian Church of Portland, Ore., is one of the forces behind the creation of the church's Thirteen Salmon Family Center, a day shelter for homeless families. (Neighborhood Notes - 2.16.10)

The Rev. Dr. Susan Suchocki Brown, minister of the First Church Unitarian Universalist in Leominster, Mass., asks: Are you prepared for the unimaginable? (Leominster Champion - 2.19.10)

A report from the Religious Institute, a multifaith organization promoting sexuality education led by the Rev. Debra W. Haffner, a community minister with the Unitarian Church in Westport, Conn., calls for faith leaders to focus on becoming "sexually healthy" and to better meet the sexuality needs of congregants by 2020. (Christian Post - 2.15.10)

See also: Not enough sex talk in churches or seminaries, report says (Austin American-Statesman – 2.12.10)

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Tarpon Springs, Fla., issued a Statement of Conscience that repudiates the Christian Doctrine of Discovery and presses the U.S. government to adopt the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (Indian Country Today – 2.14.10)

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork in Bridgehampton, N.Y., is hosting a free two-day holistic healing clinic. (The Sag Harbor Express - 2.17.10)

After four years of work by a total of 197 volunteers the Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Port Townsend, Wash., dedicated its new "built green" sanctuary. (Peninsula Daily - 2.16.10)

Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church in Camp Springs, Md., embraces wind-generated electricity and other environmentally friendly initiatives. (Gazette – 1.28.10)

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse, Mich., recently completed a new 1,600-square-foot expansion, which includes classrooms and children's space. (Traverse City Record Eagle – 2.12.10)

The Huntsville, Tex., Unitarian Universalist Fellowship prepared to have its first service in its new church building. (Huntsville Item – 2.13.10)