We are a Welcoming Congregation, recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association. This means we affirm and include people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer at every level of congregational life—in worship, in program, and in social occasions—welcoming them as whole people.

As a Welcoming Congregation we have pledged to:

• honor the lives of all people and equally affirm displays of caring and affection without regard for sexual orientation.
• celebrate diversity by using inclusive language and content in worship.
• incorporate an understanding of the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual,  transgender, and queer persons throughout all of our programs, including religious education.
• affirm and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer issues and history.
• affirm marriage equality and conduct same-sex weddings.
• advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, promoting justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society. We speak out when the rights and dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are at stake.

Gender Identity/Pronouns. Many at CVUUS are unfamiliar with the evolving language and understanding of gender identity as a spectrum and the importance of personal pronouns in this context. CVUUS supports the Center for Emerging Adults.  We encourage you to use the Gender Unicorn worksheets and pronoun stickers found with our nametags as a useful ally move.

• Definitions of gender identity, sex assigned at birth, and sexual orientation as separate things (Gender Unicorn would be useful here)
• Explanation of gender identity as a spectrum/universe of many genders, including agender. Also that different cultures and times have different understandings of gender; many Indigenous cultures around the world do not conceive of gender in a binary way
• Introduction to personal pronouns: what, why, how to ask & introduce them, what to do if you mess up, practicing using gender neutral pronouns for people whose pronouns you don’t know yet, why not to assume people’s pronouns, why introducing your pronouns (or putting them on nametags/email signatures) is a useful ally move

CVUUS hosted QUEERIOS, a Friday afternoon drop-in time for LGBTQ youth and youth allies during the school year in our Fenn basement a few years ago. This could be revived.  Adult chaperones are needed and welcome to comply with our safe congregation policy of having two adults with youth groups. Two of our adult chaperones have recently moved out of the area and we’d love to have more people on our list of more or less occasional hosts.  If you’re interested, please contact Jordan Young – jordan@gurus.org

CVUUS seeks to address the needs and interests of LGBTQIA+ and questioning folks welcomes monthly potlucks in our Fellowship Hall and participated in Pride Day and Parade events.  Jordan Young, Ollie Cultrara (ollie.cultrara@gmail.com), Elio Farley and Mike and Liam Greenwood can provide more info.

Our buildings include gender neutral bathrooms and wifi access. We look forward to knowing you.