Welcome and Full Inclusion: Sexual Health Assessment Checklist
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| Welcoming Congregation | Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Are we recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) as a Welcoming Congregation? | |||||
| If we were recognized as a Welcoming Congregation more than 5 years ago, have we re-engaged by doing a refresher course or using Living the Welcoming Congregation? | |||||
| Has our Welcoming Congregation work included education around transgender issues, bisexual issues, and issues of race/ethnicity and sexuality? | |||||
| Do we have an active Welcoming Congregation Committee or Rainbow Task Force that meets regularly and is visible in the congregation, and/or is work around lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) welcome, inclusion, and advocacy an intentional part of our social justice committee? | |||||
| Worship | Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | |
| Do we provide opportunities for openly LGBT persons (both lay members and clergy) to participate and lead worship? | |||||
| Do we publish a statement of welcome in the worship program or bulletin that specifically names LGBT persons? | |||||
| Do we respectfully name openly LGBT congregants and raise LGBT issues and concerns in congregational prayers? | |||||
| Do we explicitly address issues relevant to LGBT congregants (e.g., marriage equality, nondiscrimination legislation, adoption rights, ordination, and other denominational issues) in sermons, education, and social action? | |||||
| Do we include LGBT people and families in all rites provided for other congregants, such as marriages/commitment ceremonies, baptisms, naming ceremonies, confirmations, and funerals? | |||||
| Do we challenge scriptural interpretations and religious doctrines that denigrate women, proscribe homosexuality, and promote heterosexism? | |||||
| Rituals | Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | |
| Do we create rituals, prayers, or other ways to acknowledge important events in the lives of LGBT congregants, such as: | A congregant's decision to come as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender | ||||
| A congregant's decision to begin gender transition | |||||
| The celebration of land marks in a congregant's gender identity journey, such as a name change | |||||
| The celebration of a same-sex couple's anniversary (regardless of whether it is a "wedding" anniversary) | |||||
| The celebration of the adoption or co-parent adoption of a child | |||||
| Healing service or prayers for LGBT congregants who have suffered from legalized discrimination, such as denial of marriage or adoption rights, dismissal from military service, or being fired from a job because of being transgender | |||||
| Observance of Freedom to Marry Week (February) in worship service | |||||
| Observance of LGBT Pride Month in worship service | |||||
| Observance of National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11) in worship service | |||||
| Observance of Transgender Day of Remembrance (Nov. 20) in worship service | |||||
| Education, Visibility and Congregational Life | Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | |
| Do we invite guest speakers to address LGBT social concerns, such as marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples, nondiscrimination legislation, and bullying and homelessness among LGBT youth in our community? | |||||
| Do we integrate stories of LGBT lives and the pastoral concerns of LGBT people in our ongoing youth and adult education programs? | |||||
| Do we ensure that LGBT individuals and families with LGBT members are recognized and listed as they desire in directories and other publications? | |||||
| Do we prominently display a rainbow flag on a regular basis? | |||||
| Do we make our facilities available for use by LGBT congregational groups as well as LGBT community groups, such as Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and COLAGE: People with a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer Parent? | |||||
| Do we provide at least one gender-neutral, ADA-accessible restroom, labeled as such? Do we have signs directing people to that restroom? | |||||
| Do we provide sensitivity training in pastoral care to LGBT congregants for clergy, lay leaders, and other staff, as appropriate? | |||||
| Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | ||
| Do we include a statement of welcome that specifically acknowledges lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people as members of our community, and specifically invites LGBT persons and families to membership on our: | Web Site? | ||||
| Newsletter? | |||||
| Bulletin? | |||||
| Congregation signs? | |||||
| Congregation brochure? | |||||
| Do we have inclusive language guidelines that are given to all worship coordinators and speakers, bulletin and website editors, and membership leaders and greeters? (see Policies and Environment section for more detail) | |||||
| Does our religious education program for youth address sexual orientation, beginning with an appreciation of family diversity in the primary grades and expanding to full inclusion in programs for high school youth? | |||||
| Does our religious education program for youth include age-appropriate education around gender identity and how gender roles and norms play out in our society, reflective of the experiences of transgender individuals? | |||||
| Does our religious education for adults incorporate lesbian, gay, and bisexual peoples' life issues and experiences? | |||||
| Does our religious education for adults incorporate transgender and gender variant peoples' life issues and experiences? | |||||
| Do we have support groups for LGBT persons and families with LGBT members? | |||||
| Outreach and Public Witness / Social Justice | Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | |
| Does the congregation actively seek to build partnerships and relationships with local LGBT organizations and communities by: | Advertising in the local LGBT press (both print and online), inviting members of the community to visit your congregation for an inclusive worship experience? | ||||
| Distributing a flyer on your congregation and its welcoming policy at community centers, book stores, restaurants, and clubs that are affiliated with LGBT communities? | |||||
| Establishing and maintaining contact/partnerships with local LGBT groups and organizations, to build relationships, offer support in whatever ways are needed, and promote dialogue and interaction? | |||||
| Establishing and maintaining relationships with local LGBT organizations for referrals and support of congregation members? | |||||
| Hosting open houses for LGBT communities at your congregation? | |||||
| Participating with exhibits and tables at local events targeted to local LGBT communities? | |||||
| Engaging other clergy in the community in a discussion of theological support for LGBT inclusion and the pastoral needs of LGBT persons? | |||||
| Participating in and/or supporting efforts to create justice and equality for LGBT people on local, state, and national levels? | |||||
| Enlisting other clergy and congregations in the community in organizing support for an LGBT issue or participating in a march or other action? | |||||
| Utilizing social marketing media such as Facebook and Twitter to reach LGBT people who may not be familiar with your congregation? | |||||
| Joining LGBT individuals and organizations outside the congregational walls in observing special LGBT events such as Gay Pride month, National Coming Out Day, and Transgender Day of Remembrance? | |||||
| Hosting a program or group for LGBT youth? | |||||