Unitarian Universalists for Marriage Equality: A State by State Breakdown
In all of the six states that currently allow civil marriage for same-sex partners Unitarian Universalist (UU) Congregations, State Networks and Legislative Ministries, and the interfaith coalitions in which they participate have had an enormous impact on winning full and equal marriage rights for BLGT people. Following are some highlights of their activism in the states that have recently legalized same sex marriage.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is the most recent state in the Union to grant civil marriage equality to same sex couples. Unitarian Universalists were instrumental in moving marriage equality legislation forward and ensuring full and equal rights to civil marriage for the citizens of New Hampshire. Read more at the UU Action Network of New Hampshire.
Iowa
UU ministers in Ames, Des Moines, and all over Iowa were some of the first clergy to perform ceremonies for same sex couples after the new law went into effect.
Rev. Benjamin Maucere and the Rev. Holly Horn held a single wedding ceremony for 34 people who came from Missouri on Friday, May 1, at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City. In addition, the Congregations stepped up to provide housing, wedding cake and banners. Read the UU World article.
As members of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, UUs will continue to work towards marriage equality for all.
Vermont
Many UU ministers in Vermont belong to the Vermont Freedom to Marry coalition that includes both secular and faith groups. Their support was instrumental in gaining enough support for Vermont’s House and Senate to overturn the Governor’s veto of legislation that ultimately passed to legalize civil marriage for same sex couples.
Connecticut
Unitarian Universalist minister Rev. Josh Pawelek leads the group Connecticut Clergy for Marriage Equality, which includes many UUs and clergy from other faiths. This group, an arm of Connecticut’s marriage equality focused nonprofit Love Makes a Family, has also produced a "Religious Declaration on Marriage Equality," which was signed by members of many different religious groups.
Maine
As members of the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry in Maine, Unitarian Universalists were instrumental in advocating for and helping to pass this law.
Nationwide
The struggle for marriage equality is ongoing in many states. Strong Unitarian Universalist voices are vital to the debates and decisions to come in New York, New Jersey, Washington, Oregon, the District of Columbia and elsewhere around the country.
Unitarian Universalist ministers, congregation members, Statewide Advocacy Networks and Legislative Ministries have raised loud and proud religious voices for marriage equality and have had a huge impact on victories in all of these states. All over the nation, UUs continue to work towards the day when marriage equality is a reality for everyone.
For more information contact la_bglt @ uua.org.
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Last updated on Thursday, July 21, 2011.
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