Statements by Bill Sinkford, President of the UUA

February 4, 2004: "I enthusiastically applaud today's opinion from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. As they did in the Goodridge decision, the court once again has resoundingly affirmed the right to equal protection and due process for all Massachusetts citizens as guaranteed under the state's constitution. Unitarian Universalists are delighted by the Court's refusal to create 'a second-class of citizens by status discrimination.' As we learned through our country's bitter history of racial discrimination, separate but equal does not work. As the large banner on the side of our Beacon Hill headquarters building proclaims, Unitarian Universalists believe that civil marriage is a civil right."

February 19, 2004: "On behalf of the Unitarian Universalist Association, I am delighted to extend congratulations and blessings to the same-sex couples who have been married recently in San Francisco. I applaud the courage of the mayor and citizens of San Francisco in taking this bold step forward for civil rights. It is my fervent hope that the events in San Francisco and the recent rulings by the Supreme Judicial Court in Massachusetts mark the dawn of new day of justice and equal rights for all citizens. The Rev. John Marsh and the Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, co-ministers at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco, have officiated at several of the marriage ceremonies for Unitarian Universalists in San Francisco, and I am grateful for their efforts. For decades, Unitarian Universalist ministers have performed religious services of union for same-sex couples, and it is a joy to realize that civil marriage is now an option for our lesbian and gay sisters and brothers. I realize that these recent events are just the beginning of a long struggle for equal rights, but I assure you that Unitarian Universalism is committed to this work. Unitarian Universalists know that civil marriage is a civil right."

One of the categories I've been meaning to make is a Unitarian Universalist one, and I came across the material for its inaugral post, so I had to make it! I love my church. I love the UUA. I love Bill Sinkford. I think he's cute (for an old guy!) ;), but that's not why I love him: I love him 'cause he's very cool.

Also, a couple of weeks ago the UUA headquarters hosted a day of activities for the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry. Leaders from the Episcopal, Jewish, UCC/Congregational, and UU churches attended a prayer breakfast in the morning followed by a press conference. They had a training on lobbying techniques before walking next door to the Massachusetts State House to inform their elected officials of their support for same-sex marriage and their opposition to a proposed amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution that would prohibit same-sex marriage.

I'm so glad to have been to GA last year and to the UUA headquarters, because now I can picture all of them there, and I know how the State House is right next door (there's a statue of Ann Hutchinson, but you can't get close to it, because the whole place is surrounded by a black wrought iron fence). All of this is up on a hill, Beacon Hill, overlooking the lovely gardens below. Boston is a lovely city. :) And it's filled with fascinating history. And the UUA is there—what could be better than that?! ;)

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