Statement from the Rev. William G. Sinkford, President of the
Unitarian Universalist Association, on the decision of the United
States Supreme Court in the case of Lawrence et al v. Texas
(Boston, June 26, 2003) The Unitarian Universalist Association
has a long-standing and deeply held commitment to support full equality
for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people.
In that spirit, we enthusiastically applaud today’s ruling
by the United States Supreme Court, which takes a major step toward
affirming the basic human right of full equality for all people.
Today’s decision reinforces our commitment to work to end
homophobia. We acknowledge that while progress has been made, we
still have work to do to honor every person’s inherent worth
and dignity.
Laws aimed at discriminating against bisexual, gay, lesbian, and
transgender people are affronts to all people, no matter their sexual
or gender orientation. These laws have been used to separate and
divide us from one another; their intent is to support discrimination
and make some people in our country second-class citizens.
Unitarian Universalism’s support for bisexual, gay, lesbian,
and transgender rights goes back 33 years to 1970. We have advocated
for nondiscrimination and hate crimes legislation; we have performed
ceremonies of union; and we are working for the legalization of
same-sex marriage.
Following the 1986 Bowers v. Hardwick decision, Unitarian Universalists
vowed to engage in public witness whenever we gathered in a state
with sodomy laws. We have protested these laws in Texas, Florida,
North Carolina, Arizona, and Utah, and we will continue to articulate
our belief that all people of all sexual orientations and gender
identities deserve full human rights.
Today, we gather in our largest-ever General Assembly and we celebrate
the decision of the Court. But our work is not finished: Unitarian
Universalists across our country will continue these efforts, grounded
in faith, which calls us to support everyone’s full humanity,
everyone’s ability to love, and everyone’s value in
the world.
Media coverage:
Bill
Sinkford speaks on NPR
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