Our February Town Hall Meeting Endorsed Civil Marriage Equality

We define religious values in our denomination by choosing and adopting Statementsof Conscience after a multi-year, democratic process that starts by choosinga new Study/Action Issue at General Assembly. In February we held a town hallmeeting to review the four proposed Study/Action Issues for 2004, as describedon the UU Commissionon Social Witness web site.

At that time we overwhelmingly voted to urge our delegates at General Assemblythis month to vote for the issue entitled Civil Marriage Equality for Same-sexCouples.

Marriage has changed over time to fit the needs and purposes of society. Forexample, interracial marriage was once deemed "unnatural" and was illegal insome states. In 1967 the Supreme Court recognized miscegenation as a violationof civil rights. For more than two decades Unitarian Universalist ministershave performed same-sex commitment ceremonies. But marrying a person of one'sown gender is illegal. A federal law, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA, 1996),stipulates that marriage is between a man and a woman. Similar laws exist in37 states; others have pending legislation. These laws grant hundreds of stateand federal civil rights, responsibilities, benefits, and protections of civilmarriage to opposite-sex couples, while denying these rights to more than 10million gay and lesbian people. It is time for change.

Recent court decisions have challenged discrimination against the civil rightsof lesbians and gays, and many people believe that any legislation that deniescivil marriage equality for same-sex couples is unconstitutional. Opponentsperceive equality for same-sex couples as a threat to the "sanctity of traditionalmarriage," so they are trying to pass a constitutional amendment prohibitingthis practice.

Unitarian Universalists have historically supported civil unions and legalequity regardless of sexual orientation, but it is time for us to deepen thatcommitment by adopting a Statement of Conscience endorsing same-sex civil marriage.As one of our delegates to GA this year, I will vote to select this issue forstudy and action. I believe it is time for us to have a denominational dialogueabout how we can most effectively support same-sex marriage.

- Charles Haskell Chair, Faith in Action Commission

Peace and Civil Liberties Chair Speaks Out on Banner Issue

As the chair of the Peace and Civil Liberties Committee, I'd like to weighin on some of the issues that were brought up during the congregational meetingof May 16 regarding the display of a banner saying "Civil Marriage Is a CivilRight."

To bring non-attenders up to speed, this debate took place near the end ofthe meeting, immediately following the unanimous vote putting UUCCSM on recordas favoring same sex marriage rights. A second Interweave proposal authorizinga banner outside of the church was then discussed and ultimately tabled untilthe issue could be more fully aired at meetings this summer.

I will begin by stating my forthright support for the banner. I am led to thisposition by the basic tenants of our denomination, my activism as part of Faithin Action, and the courageous lead that UUA has shown in displaying an identicalbanner in Boston across from the Massachusetts State House.

What I would now like to do is discuss each of the counter arguments that wereraised, the first being that those who do not agree with same sex marriage willbe disinclined from visiting our church. The rejoinder to this is why wouldsomeone who opposes civil rights for marriage want to attend a UU church? Ibelieve that such a banner could actually spur attendance. Could there be amore public way of demonstrating that we are indeed a welcoming congregation?

Another more activist argument was Why this issue? and Why not a banner favoringwomen's reproductive rights? I, for one, would support that banner as well.A year ago I would have welcomed a banner opposing the Iraqi war. The issueis that civil rights for marriage is a battle being fought today. Many stateswill have referenda this year seeking to ban same-sex marriage. If George Bushwere to propose an anti-abortion activist for the Supreme Court, then obviouslythis struggle would require both our vocal and public support.

Finally, fears were voiced that a "Civil Marriage is a Civil Right" bannercould inspire vandalism. My answer to this is twofold. One, our church is locatedin what is frequently called the Peoples' Republic of Santa Monica, and two,if we can not display our support for marriage equality now, then when shallwe do so?

Should we display a banner once an issue has been settled, perhaps one callingfor voting rights regardless of sex or racial equality? Our role is, I believe,to lead. Of what value is our unanimous vote in favor of marriage equality ifit is to remain unspoken for fear of reprisal? Our church's history of activismbeginning with Thoreau and continuing through our support of Martin Luther Kingcompels us to publicly proclaim a unanimously held stance on what has becomea critical civil rights issue of our time.

- S. J. Guidotti