Marriage Equality
Background: In November 2012, Minnesota voters will decide whether to ban marriage for the LGBTQ community. At First Universalist, we are actively working to defeat this Marriage Prohibition Amendment. Here are many opportunities for you to participate in this important work:
Marriage Equality Storytelling: These uniquely Unitarian Universalist workshops will prepare you to have real conversations with friends, colleagues, neighbors and family about why you care about the Minnesota Marriage Amendment and why you are voting "no" in November 2012. Learn more at firstuniv.org/MarriageStorytelling
Phone banking: The second Monday of every month, First Universalists will gather 6:30-9:30pm at Minnesota United (1821 University Ave. W. St. Paul, Suite S137, at NE corner of University and Fairview, 651-330-6852). Starting in May the location might change. Sign up for that opportunity at Minnesota United website. Use the link to register for phone banking, and mention in Notes that you are from First Universalist. Car-pooling available from First Universalist at 6pm. OR, if Saturdays 10am-2pm works better for you, Outfront Minnesota will host phone banking (310 E. 38th St., Sabbathani Center).
Contacts: The First Universalist coordination on phone banking is being handled by Doug Abbott (dougmn@me.com), Suzann Willhite (s.willhite@yahoo.com) and Jeni Klotz (jeni.klotz27@gmail.com). Other work involving Minnesota UUs in general is being coordinated by Ralph Wyman, ralph@muusja.org and Lena Gardner, lenakatherine@gmail.com.
OUR VIDEO: Launched into the world March 1, more than 3,300 people have watched this video, featuring seven First Universalist couples speaking on behalf of marriage equality. Watch it, if you haven't, then share the link to this page with anyone you know who might need to understand this issue better. Use the CC button for a captioned version to read along with (thanks to congregant Scott Marshall!) You can also find it on our First Universalist Facebook page. Or contact communications coordinator Mikki Morrissette (mikki@firstuniv.org) for an embedded email you can send directly to others.
Thanks to First Universalist youth (Owen Saarinen, Gerhardt Robinson, Sophia Morrissette) and videomaker Larry LaVercombe, as well as all of the congregants who shared their stories and views as part of our February 4 Day of Service.
What does the actual marriage amendment say? Read it here.
Here are other resources that might be helpful for those who want to work on behalf of defeating this amendment.
2. Learn more from this caucus guide about how to make resolutions and participate in the democratic process leading up to the marriage amendment vote in November
3.Share some of these stories of courageous love from the Standing on the Side of Life website, with someone who needs deeper understanding of the power of love.
5. Listen to this podcast -- a wonderful conversation from Randy Roberts Potts at First Universalist about growing up gay as the grandson of Oral Roberts -- and what it means to love and be loved.
6. Books available from UUA Bookstore on this topic.
7. Join the more than 1,400 people who have seen our "It Gets Better" video here, which offers the voice of First U congregants talking especially to youth who might not yet have the support they need.
8. Personal, Theological, and Biblical Reflections on the Marriage Amendment, Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 1:00pm, United Theological Seminary, 3000 5th Street Northwest, New Brighton, MN. There is a cost for this event, payable to United Theological Seminary, of $30 ($15 for UTS seminary students). Carolyn Pressler, UTS professor, and her partner of 15 years, Sue Ebbers, dean of the seminary, provide personal stories and biblical and theological tools for helping congregations respond to the marriage amendment. Register directly with UTS online.