As one of the people recruited by the 75th Anniversary committee to write this blog, it’s been my intention for a few months now to research and write a blog post about UUFR’s LGBTQ advocacy efforts, which I knew our congregation had long been involved in. So imagine my elation when I found that the job has already been done! Joyce Pollack and Georgia Springer, two of the founders of the Interweave group at UUFR, had written a summary of UUFR’s leadership in LGBTQ rights, and I’m very glad to share their detailed and inspiring account with you. Part 1 on their document covers through 1999; Part 2, covering 2000 to 2015, will be run soon. And I hope eventually to update the timeline to the present–let me know if you can help! –Lynda Hambourger

HISTORY OF UUFR SUPPORT FOR LGTBQ PEOPLE AND ISSUES

Late 1980s to early 1990s
● Beginning with our earliest ministers, ministers at UUFR have performed LGBTQ Services of Union.
● The UUFR minister Rev. Morris Hudgins, with Rev. Jimmy Creech and others, helped found the Raleigh Religious Network for Gay and Lesbian Equality. Rev. Creech was a local Methodist minister who was defrocked for performing same-sex weddings and has continued to advocate for marriage equality. After Rev. Creech lost his pulpit, UUFR applied for and received a grant from the UUA which provided some income for Rev. Creech as he traveled the state spreading the news about RRNGLE.
● UUFR opened our pulpit for a woman and her gay son to speak about what it was like for them as a gay man and a Catholic parent.
● UUFR provided space for the community Lesbian Coffee House.

Early to mid 1990s
UUFR provided meeting space and a mailing address for PFLAG.
1992 to Present
Members of our LGBTQ community have served as:
● Music Director
● Assistant Minister
● Interim Minister
● Intern Minister
● Interim Congregational Administrator
● Youth Group Coordinator
● Youth Advisors
● President and members of the Board of Directors
● Chairs of Program Council and Interweave
● Welcoming Congregation Committee
● Margaret Fuller Circle/Fellowship Circle facilitators
● Many key task forces/committees throughout the Fellowship infrastructure

1992
Stories of Diversity Sunday service includes LGBTQ member.

1993
● Rev. Morris Hudgins helps start an Interweave chapter at UUFR. “Interweave is a membership organization affiliated with the UUA. It is dedicated to the spiritual, political, and social well-being of UUs who are confronting oppression as lesbians, gay men, bisexual persons, transgender persons, and their heterosexual allies. It celebrates the culture and lives of its members.”
● We start wearing pink triangles on our nametags.
● Members march in NC Pride parade in Raleigh
● LGBTQ member presents a PRIDE service
● Began the Welcoming Congregation process in October with a service and workshops about LGBTQ issues.
● Hawaii Same-Sex Marriage ruling prompts request from local TV news team to UUFR for LGBTQ feedback. LGBTQ member and partner appear on TV news program.
● LGBTQ friend debates same-sex marriage with right-wing fundamentalist clergy on local TV news magazine following the Hawaii Same-Sex Marriage ruling

1995
● February 17-19 UUFR hosts Interweave CONVO, a yearly gathering of North American Interweave members.
● Transsexual member presents Sunday service and comes out to the congregation.

1997
● Interweave presents a PRIDE Sunday service on June 8 with a panel comprised of Walt Lewis, Rusty Harris-Bishop, Julia Schelly, Bernise Lynch, Ron Gill, and Jim McDonnell.
● Colors of the rainbow banners first hung proudly in the rafters of Fellowship Hall, then our Sunday service area.

1998
● Interweave sponsors Love Makes a Family: Living in Lesbian and Gay Families, a photo-text exhibit for the entire community in June.
● Interweave presents a PRIDE Sunday service.

1999
● UUFR Bylaws changed in March to add a Statement of Inclusion: “This congregation affirms and promotes the full participation of all persons in all our activities and endeavors without regard to race, color, gender, physical or mental challenge, affectional or sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, or national origin”.
● Welcoming Congregation workshops held May 21-22 for about 40 people.
● Interweave marches in NC PRIDE parade in Greensboro and presents a PRIDE service on June 6 featuring a panel discussion with Rusty Harris-Bishop, Bernise Lynch, and Jamie Nunnelly.
● The Welcoming Congregation Committee presents a PRIDE service with Rev. Jimmy Creech. UUFR unanimously votes to become a Welcoming Congregation by passing the following resolution: “We, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh, agree to embrace the designation from the UUA as a Welcoming Congregation. As a Welcoming Congregation, we will:
▪ Strive to be more inclusive and expressive of the concerns of Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender persons at every level of congregational life.
▪ Strive to incorporate in all programs, as appropriate, an understanding of the experiences of Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender persons.
▪ Engage in outreach to the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender community.
▪ Offer congregational and ministerial support for services of union and memorial services for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender persons and for celebrations of the evolving definition of family.
▪ Nurture ongoing dialogue between people of all affectional/sexual orientations and gender identifications to create deeper trust and sharing.
▪ Affirm and celebrate Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender issues and history.
▪ Strive to be advocates for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender persons and work to promote justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society.
▪ Celebrate the lives of all people, celebrate their ways of expressing love for each other, and welcome same-gender couples by recognizing their committed relationships.
● Interweave first hosts LGBTQ Community Games night one night per month at UUFR. This is a smoke- and alcohol-free time to play games with other LGBTQ folks and allies.

Stay tuned to this space for Part 2 of this timeline, including events from 2000 to 2015. And if you can add information from the last 10 years, please contact me, Lhambouger@gmail.com.

Do you have a memory of a particular community or social action project supported by UUFR? We want your stories! Please send your story and any related pictures or photos to stories@uufr.org .