We are a Welcoming Congregation, recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association. This means we affirm and include people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer at every level of congregational life—in worship, in program, and in social occasions—welcoming them as whole people.

As a Welcoming Congregation we have pledged to:

• honor the lives of all people and equally affirm displays of caring and affection without regard for sexual orientation.
• celebrate diversity by using inclusive language and content in worship.
• incorporate an understanding of the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons throughout all of our programs, including religious education.
• affirm and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer issues and history.
• affirm marriage equality and conduct same-sex weddings.
• advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, promoting justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society. We speak out when the rights and dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are at stake.

We recognize that there’s always something more to learn, and remain open to deepening our understanding about the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.

The LGBTQ+ Inclusion Team at UU Utica has regular meetings on the 2nd Sunday of each month. All are welcome to join us.

The inclusion team recommends these resources for further information:

UPLIFT – This is the quarterly newsletter from the UUA’s LGBTQ Ministries, sharing LGBTQ voices in Unitarian Universalism and beyond.

TRUUsT – Transgender Religious Unitarian Universalist professionals Together

ACR Health – Community based, not for profit organization which provides a range of services for health conditions. ACR Health also has Q Centers, which support and advocate with the LGBTQ community. ACR Health’s legacy is that of treating HIV in disadvantaged populations.

SAGE – Advocacy for LGBTQ elders

CNY Pride – Central New York Pride

PFLAG – LGBTQ advocacy organization

GLSEN – Organization to create safe and inclusive schools

HRC – Organization that fights for equal rights for LGBTQ persons