UUFSMA: “Something So Strong: A Celebration of Pride”

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Online Service

“Something So Strong: A Celebration of Pride”
Speaker: Morganna Luv

Sunday, June 6, 2021
10:30 am

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/414604040 

Password: 294513

By Joseph Plummer

UUF Secretary

In Mexico, the United States, and Canada, as in many nations, June is Gay Pride month, celebrating the public affirmation, equality, and dignity of LGBTQ individuals. As gay author Armistead Maupin says, “The world changes in direct proportion to the number of people willing to be honest about their lives.”  Honesty, openness, and personal pride is the catalyst advancing LGBTQ human rights. However, being honest and proud instead of closeted and ashamed often requires a difficult journey.

This Sunday’s UUFSMA online service will trace this journey of people in San Miguel’s Mexican and expat communities through the words of Mexico’s most famous trans woman, San Miguel native Morganna Luv and UUFSMA minister and this week’s service leader Reverend Tom Rosiello. “Celebrating Pride is a way for our faith tradition to affirm and promote the UU first principle of belief in ‘the inherent worth and dignity of every person’,” Rev. Rosiello says.

Because many religious traditions exclude and demean LGBTQ people, Reverend Rosiello thinks of Pride as an especially important UU religious holiday and a moment to reaffirm the fellowship’s welcome to Mexico’s LGBTQ community, whose families and churches often ostracize. The service will also include creations of LGBT writers, composers, and performers.

Despite progress since the first demonstration of gay pride during the Stonewall Riot in New York City fifty-two year ago, many nations continue to deny LGBTQ rights and some treat gay people as criminals.  Moreover, in countries that recognize LGBTQ rights, including the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, many political opponents seek to deny those rights. In the U.S., for example, state legislatures have passed or proposed no fewer than seventy bills to legalize discrimination against trans-individuals while the U.S. Senate has not passed and may allow to die “The Equality Act” banning all gender and sexual discrimination.

To participate in our online Service, visit the Fellowship’s website at www.uufsma.org and click on the Zoom Service button displayed on the home page. If requested, enter password: 294513. Sign-in from anywhere Sunday mornings between 10:15-10:25 am CST.

Through grants and awards, UUFSMA donates at least fifty percent of its budget to support nonprofit organizations that provide health, educational, and environmental services for underserved communities in the San Miguel region. Please support this work by clicking on the website home page Donate button. Now more than ever, your support is essential.

Due to the coronavirus, UUFSMA has suspended in-person Sunday services and other gatherings. A growing collection of previous online services can be found on the UUFSMA’s YouTube channel. Go to https://www.youtube.com/ and enter UUFSMA in the search box. The UU Fellowship welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity.