In 2014, the First Universalist Society of Hartland, VT went through a formal, multi-step process to become an official Welcoming Congregation, recognized by Unitarian Universalist Association. This process to becoming truly welcoming of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities included education, workshops, inviting in speakers, making infrastructure changes to our bylaws, website, and order of service to make them more inclusive, and holding a vote among other steps.
In November of 2014, our members unanimously voted to be recognized as a Welcoming Congregation. We were very clear that becoming recognized as a Welcoming Congregation is a commitment, not a moment in time. We are committed to being involved in the issues affecting LGBTQ+ people in our area.
We do this in many ways, including:
Hosting a Community Prom: since 2014 we have hosted this event, inviting everyone in the wider community to come and be in a safe space to be who they want to be, to wear what they want to wear, and to celebrate and dance with people they want to be with. We’ve had people get engaged at our prom, we’ve had people of advanced ages get to experience prom for the first time because they didn’t feel comfortable attending their High School prom, and we’ve had same-gender couples dancing comfortably, joyfully, because they knew they were safe, loved, and supported at our event.
Another is the Our Whole Lives program, or OWL, which is an is an intensive, comprehensive, lifespan curriculum created by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ (UCC) focused on age-appropriate education on all aspects of human relationships and sexuality in the context of our respective faiths. In collaboration with the First Congregational Church of Hartland, VT (the UCC Church), The Hartland Unitarian Universalist Church offers three levels of OWL: grades 5-6, grades 7-8, and grades 9-12 (or the homeschool equivalent). The OWL program provides clear messages about the key sexuality issues of self-worth, sexual health, responsibility, and justice and inclusivity. Our Whole Lives helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their relationships, sexual health and behavior. With a holistic approach, Our Whole Lives provides accurate, developmentally appropriate information about a range of topics, including relationships, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, sexual health, and cultural influences on sexuality. I’m so proud of our faith communities for providing this program to our youth.
In 2022, we participated in the first Hartland, VT PRIDE Walk, which started at the First Universalist Society of Hartland, VT (the UU Church) at Hartland 4 Corners with speakers and enthusiastic joy. People walked together the 1.6 miles to the First Congregational Church of Hartland (the UCC Church). We chose this route to highlight that Hartland, VT has a thriving LGBTQ+ community, supported in part by both of these Open and Affirming/Welcoming church communities. This walk was open to everyone who wanted to join, was attended by ~75 people, including many youth, government officials, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, allies, and supporters.
Resources:
- The UUA The Welcoming Congregation Program
- UU History & Facts About LGBTQ Issues
