 Throughout our history, The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami has tried to be an inclusive organization. In that tradition, we are now pursuing our certification by the U.U.A. as a "Welcoming Congregation." This process is intended to educate us as members in matters regarding sexual orientation and gender identity with the intent of doing a better job in welcoming gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer-questioning community.
Our journey began in June during our Pride Sunday Service, when the congregation completed a questionaire set out in the UUA Handbook for "Welcoming Congregations" and although we are a liberal thinking community, we were surprised at some of our answers. Clearly we are all comfortable having LGBTQ neighbors and friends, but the closer the relationship is to home, the harder it is to reconcile. In other words, we are all comfortable having an LGBTQ hairdresser, but a son or daughter is another matter. Certainly we all want a life of happiness for our loved ones, but since our ideas of happiness do not always aline, we can be at odds with each other with loving intent.
After the initial questionaire, we began a year-long series of monthly workshops on related issues as laid out in the UUA Handbook, such as "What We Know and How We Learned It," How Homophobia Hurts Us All," "Racism and Homophobia," and "Biblical References to Homophobia."
On March 30th we really got into the heart of the trangender issues facing our community. We were pleased to have Dr. Marilyn Volker, pictured below, as our featured speaker and facilitator of a trangender family panel discussion on this very special day. The panelists were awe inspiring in sharing the stories of their courageous efforts to lead their own lives freely as their own persons, in their own skins, and unfettered by constraints of gender "norms" set out by our western "civilization." Our congregation showed the compassion and caring that we have come to expect and we hope that our panelists and their families will feel at ease to return at their pleasure and further inspire us with their wisdom and courage.
Our next workshop asks us "What Next?" as we do a recap of our past years study of issues of being truly welcoming to the LGBTQ members of our community who might not expect to feel accepted in a "church" venue. We will be recapping in an effort to solidify our feelings as we prepare for a congregational vote at our annual meeting in May to ask the U.U.A. to recognize us as an officially sanctioned "Welcoming Congregation."
All workshops are presented in the Sanctuary and begin at 12:30 PM right after our 11:00 AM Sunday Service. Refreshments are served and all are welcome.
Our "Welcoming Congregation" Film Series continues with the presentation of a PBS Front Line documentary "A Hidden Life" on Friday April 25th at 7:30 P.M. This film recounts the secret life of the closeted mayor of Spokane, Washington whose outting by a local paper brings his house of cards tumbling down with a recall election that leaves him ousted. A small donation of a mere $5 is requested to cover refreshment expenses. Come join us! Let's learn from each other!
As part of our outreach to the LGBTQ community and in effort to promote understanding and compassion, we have decided to offer space to a new chapter of PFLAG, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender. The new chapter is called PFLAG Kendall and meets at 12 Noon on the second Saturday of every month. Again, all are welcome.
On Saturday April 12th at 5 P.M. we of PFLAG Kendall will be volunteering at the GLAAD Award Ceremony for South Florida at the Hardrock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood. We are very much looking forward to this big event.
If you have any questions about our "Welcoming Congregation," please feel free to contact any one of the co-facilitators.
Barbara Byrne @ 305-505-0689
Carina Frias @ 305-338-6219
Tom Edwards @ 305-502-9010
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