Media Contact:
Suzanne Morse
Ph: (508) 259-9354
Email: smorse@uua.org

Boston, Mass. (November 9, 2022) – Below is a statement from Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, regarding protecting and strengthening democracy:

Unitarian Universalists (UUs) are committed to protecting and strengthening democracy. We are guided by the shared values – and moral compass - articulated in our Seven Principles, including our Fifth Principle that affirms “the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.”

We hold the practice of democracy within our denomination and society as sacred. Unitarian Universalists believe that every voice matters and every voice is needed. Unfettered access to the ballot is essential to ensuring every voice is heard. To help realize that vision for American society, over the last several years, we have partnered directly with the communities most subject to voter suppression tactics, especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) that experience both systemic policies and threats of violent intimidation to prevent them from exercising their Constitutional rights.

In both words and deeds, through our nonpartisan civic engagement initiative - UU the Vote - and other actions, UUs have shown how much we revere defending and expanding democracy, and protecting the right to vote. In fact, on election day, when voters in Philadelphia were surprised to find the polling location where they had voted for decades suddenly closed, UUs quickly moved into action to provide information and rides for voters to their new polling location. I am proud of the ways that UUs showed up in Pennsylvania and across the country to make clear, measurable differences in the nation’s democratic processes.

I am also gratified that so many Americans - including those from historically marginalized communities - showed their commitment to democracy and came out to vote yesterday and in the days and weeks beforehand. And as a leader of a religious denomination that has embraced support for Reproductive Justice and has long supported keeping abortion legal in all or most cases, I am heartened to see that many voters chose to protect reproductive rights.

Whatever the final outcome of this election cycle is, Unitarian Universalists will continue our work to protect democracy. And we remain committed to supporting those communities – including BIPOC communities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, disabled people, women, and people living in poverty - who face disproportionate impact from growing anti-democratic, authoritarian threats in this country.

About the UUA

The UUA is the central organization for the Unitarian Universalist (UU) religious movement in the United States. Our faith is diverse and inclusive and the UUA’s 1000+ member congregations are committed to Seven Principles that hold closely the worth and dignity of each person as sacred, the need for justice and compassion, the right to choose one’s own beliefs, and respect for the interdependent nature of all existence.