At the General Assembly (GA) meeting in June, an overwhelming majority – 92 percent – of Unitarian Universalists (UU) voted to approve a Business Resolution offered by the Unitarian Universalist Association’s (UUA) Board of Trustees entitled “Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary, Intersex and Gender Diverse People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values.” GA is the annual gathering of UUs, where the Association conducts business, gathers in community, learns and worships together, and seeks clarity on the Association’s mission, values, and principles.

Business Resolutions are one mechanism by which UUs express their religious beliefs, and once passed, require the UUA to implement as part of the Association’s work. The passage of this resolution solidifies and strengthens the UUA’s ministry to and with transgender, nonbinary, and intersex members of UU communities; many of these commitments and programs are amplified in the resolution’s recommended actions (listed below). The resolution passed on June 22nd recognizes a key tenet of the free exercise of religion is to be able to live one’s life authentically. “The ability to live ever-more authentically as one’s true self is central to a lifelong journey towards spiritual fulfillment,” the resolution says. This imperative and the belief that love is at the center of Unitarian Universalism as a faith “calls us to fully embrace equity for transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and gender diverse people in our congregations and the wider world.”

The resolution emphasized the challenges and threats that transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals face today, including “hundreds of new oppressive laws and policies across dozens of states and countries [that] are now targeting reproductive justice and transgender people across their lifespans.” The resolution highlights the additional risks to transgender youth, whose ability to access gender affirming medical care is under threat in the United States and beyond.

“In a world polarized and confused about the dignity and belonging of trans and non-binary people, TRUUsT (Transgender Religious Professional Unitarian Universalists Together, founded in 2004 by Rev. Sean Parker Dennison and Rev. Mr. Barb Greve) celebrates the General Assembly Business Resolution embracing transgender, nonbinary and intersex people as a matter of the practice of our faith,” said Rev. Julián Jamaica Soto, TRUUsT’s executive director. “TRUUsT members bring a broad range of skills to Unitarian Universalism, from pastoral ministry to music, from education to administration. We look forward to bringing our gifts to communities where they are not only tolerated, but also considered an integral part of communities that bring the value of love alive in the world.”

The authors of the resolution worked with UUA staff, Board members and transgender, nonbinary and intersex UU leaders to develop the resolution. The text outlines the history of UUs in advocating for equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people, gender equity, and reproductive justice and the denomination’s record of recognizing the intersectional nature of oppression and pushing back against it. In addition to articulating theological reasons for supporting the rights of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people, the resolution also enumerates ways that UUs can actively work to further this goal.

“The imperative to care for those most at risk, especially due to systems of injustice, is one of our defining religious commitments throughout our UU history. These systems imperil the basic human right to experience freedom from discrimination in all areas of life, including healthcare, education, housing, employment, free expression, and beyond. Denial of medical care and basic human rights causes profound damage and trauma, and is a violation of our core religious principles. Securing these rights for LGBTQI+ people and communities, whose rights are now at risk, is essential for their lifelong development and thriving,” the resolution says. “Our religious tradition is a living one, and today we collectively declare that our covenant inescapably binds us to affirmation and protection of our transgender and intersex members and kindred, in faith and in practice.”

The resolution urges UU congregations to honor, defend and celebrate the spectrum of gender identity and to affirm that commitment through actions. Among the actions identified include:

• Condemning all anti-transgender legislation, demanding the repeal of anti-transgender laws, and working to block additional such bills;
• Partnering with local and state organizations led by transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people to advocate for their needs and interests;
• Supporting organizations that help people relocate or access health care including across state lines, such as the Pink Haven Coalition;
• Directly supporting member congregations and communities of the UUA engaged in this ministry in oppressive states and communities;
• Participating in UPLIFT Ministries programs
• Amplifying campaigns for bodily autonomy, such as Side With Love’s UPLIFT Action campaign;
• Participating in the Welcoming Congregation renewal program;
• Affirming this commitment locally through votes and investment of the congregation

“The Unitarian Universalist Association is working to support our transgender, nonbinary, intersex, two-spirit, and gender expansive community in tangible ways that center those needs and concerns,” said Rev. Jami A. Yandle, a non-binary UU minister and the UUA’s Transgender Support specialist. “The fact that Unitarian Universalists across the country overwhelmingly voted to embrace the community as a fundamental expression of our religious values strengthens our efforts at a time when our work is crucial to protect and save lives. Further, the commitment and support from the UUA and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee to our transgender coalition partner, the Pink Haven Coalition, is a physical manifestation of these words and is a ministry to the world."