Youth Council Resolutions About Sexuality
Youth Council, the governing body of YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists), has issued statements and resolutions on a variety of sexuality-related topics since its inception in 1983. The following are some of the MANY resolutions that you can learn more about by visiting the Youth Council Resolution Archive.
"Contraceptive, Abortion, and Sexual Rights" 1983
Youth Council committed itself to advocating for federal funding of contraceptives and abortion, to upholding individual decision-making regarding sexuality, and to opposing "squeal" laws which would limit access of minors to accessing contraceptive devices and abortion.
"Mandating Action on Lesbian, Bisexual, and Gay Youth" 1991
Youth Council acknowledged the need to provide a comfortable, safe place for lesbian, bisexual, and gay youth, and urged Unitarian Universalist (UU) youth groups and congregations to address homophobia, biphobia, and heterosexism in their programming and at all events.
"On Membership in The Religious Coalition For Abortion Rights" 1993
Youth Council supported the Religious Coaliation for Abortion Rights (RCAR) and its covenant to ensure every woman's right to choose an abortion; and charged the 1993-1994 Steering Committee to examine the process of becoming a member of RCAR. (Note: The RCAR is now the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, or RCRC.)
"On YRUU Involvement with Interweave" 1995
Youth Council upheld UU principles which support and affirm gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual individuals, acknowledged the unique and serious issues facing Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) youth, and supported collaboration between Young Religious Unitarian Universalist (YRUU) and Interweave.
"Providing GLBT Youth in the Greater Community with Relevant Information using the OWL Curriculum" 1998
Youth Council identified gaps in comprehensive sexuality education for GLBT youth and charged district leaders with advertising the Unitarian Universalist Association's (UUA's) OWL (Our Whole Lives) sexuality education curriculum.
"It ain't just about marriage!" 2004
Youth Council advocated for further gatherings of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth such as the 1999 and 2004 SATUURDAY (Sexually Accepting/Alternative Teenage UU's Respecting Diversity Among Youth) conferences, called for the Youth Office to designate part of their work exclusively to supporting queer youth, and affirmed the ongoing work of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queeer, and Questioning (GLBTQQ) youth leadership in UU communities.
What's going on with Youth Council now? Got something to say to your Youth Council Representative? Get vocal! You can find their contact information or call the Youth Office at (617) 948-4350.
For more information contact youth @ uua.org.
Last updated on Saturday, April 19, 2008.
