Marking LGBT+ History Month

2 February 2022

Unitarians are marking LGBT+ History Month with special services and events throughout February. Unitarians have a long history of campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people’s equality and inclusion and have the largest number of churches offering same-sex marriage of any denomination in the UK. Below you can find a timeline of Unitarian LGBT+ history and useful resources.

Many of our congregations are currently holding special events under the umbrella ‘A Celebration Of Love’ between 25 January and 14 February, the respective days of two patron saints of love, St. Dwynwen and St. Valentine. As part of this, one Welsh Unitarian minister appeared on Welsh television with his husband to talk about LGBT+ inclusion in the church.

UNITARIAN LGBT+ RESOURCES

Find out more about same-sex marriage ceremonies in Unitarian churches, chapels and meeting houses.

Download an LGBT+ Pride Chalice Logo, created by Rosslyn Hill Chapel Unitarians, Hampstead

Video: Unitarians at London Pride (2016)

‘Where We Stand’ LGBT+ Leaflet (2010)

‘We are proud to be an LGBT+ inclusive church’ social media images for Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

UNITARIAN LGBT+ TIMELINE

Some important dates in the story of LGBT+ inclusion in the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches:

  • 1984 – The General Assembly passed a resolution on ‘Homosexuality’ in favour of the age of consent being the same for homosexuals and heterosexuals.
  • 1993 – “Celebrating Life: a book of special services in the Unitarian and Free Christian tradition” included a section on the blessing of a same-sex partnership. It was recognised with an Institute of Social Inventions Award.
  • 2000 – The General Assembly passed a resolution on ‘Sexual Equality’ against discrimination on the grounds of sexuality, and called on the government to outlaw such discrimination, and a second resolution calling for repeal of the infamous Section 28 legislation that prohibited the “promotion of homosexuality” by local authorities.

If you have more information, photos, memories or resources to share about Unitarian LGBT+ History, please get in touch.

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