LGBTQIA+
WE ARE A WELCOMING CONGREGATION
Background: After many years of being a spiritual home that embraces LGBTQIA+ individuals, the UUFSC membership unanimously voted in May 2023 to seek formal recognition as a Welcoming Congregation. This recognition was granted by the Unitarian Universalist Association in August 2023.
Commitment: As a Welcoming Congregation, we affirm our belief that we are one human family that values and celebrates diversity. Our Fellowship is inclusive of everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious background, mental and physical abilities, body size or shape, health condition, socioeconomic condition, or family structure. We encourage full participation in the life of the Fellowship.
Community Engagement: We collaborate with local LGBTQIA+ organizations to host speakers and programs. Our efforts support advocacy for LGBTQIA+ rights and aim to foster a better understanding of issues relevant to the LGBTQIA+ community.
LGBTQIA+ Resources in Silver City & New Mexico
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LGBTQ Grant County
https://lgbtqgc.org/ -
PFLAG Silver City
https://pflagsilver.org/ -
WNMU Queers & Allies
https://life.wnmu.edu/rso/ -
Equality New Mexico
https://www.eqnm.org/ -
Dial 988
Judgment-Free LGBTQIA+ Emotional or Substance Use 24/7 Help Line
https://lgbtqgc.org/988-2
As Unitarian Universalists (UUs), we not only open our doors to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions; we value diversity of sexuality and gender and see it as a spiritual gift. We create inclusive religious communities and work for LGBTQIA+ justice and equity as a core part of who we are.
All of who you are is sacred. All of who you are is welcome. When we say we welcome everyone, we mean it. Unitarian Universalism has become widely known for affirming and working toward recognition and rights for LGBTQIA+ families. We ordain LGBTQIA+ ministers and provide a safe and loving place for weddings, vow renewals, commitment ceremonies, child dedications, and memorial services.
As UUs, we honor and recognize that there are more than two genders and an infinite variety of gendered experiences in the world. We educate youth about understanding gender identity and how gender roles and norms play out in our society. We support nondiscrimination policies in employment, immigration, housing, credit, school and college admissions, and public accommodations; name changes; and gender marker changes. Understanding the importance of comfort and inclusion, we have multiple non-gendered restrooms available in our fellowship hall.
Welcoming Congregation Program
The UUFSC is proud to participate in the UUA’s Welcoming Congregation Program. The program promotes “acceptance, inclusion, understanding, and equity for LGBTQ+ people and families within their congregation, the denomination, and in society at large.”
UUFSC Sunday Programs of Interest to the LGBTQIA+ Community:
- September 2023: “Pride Not Prejudice: A Brief History of Pride and the Current Climate and Legal Issues Facing the LGBTQIA+ Community Nationwide”
- June 2024: “UU the Vote – Issues Affecting the LGBTQIA+ Community This Election Year and How You Can Take Action”
- September 2024: “Celebrating Transgender Individuals and Their Supportive Communities”
PROGRAMS (PAST AND PRESENT) OF INTEREST TO THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY
The UUFSC offers programs during Sunday services that explore issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community. These have included insightful retrospectives on landmark initiatives that have shaped the landscape of LGBTQIA+ rights and visibility, alongside upcoming programs that continue to support, educate, and empower.
