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Background Information for Massachusetts Religious Professionals speaking in support of the One Year Anniversary of Freedom to Marry in Massachusetts
Important Information for Ministerial Professionals
Talking Points for Religious Professionals in Communicating with the Media
November 18, 2004
In support of religious professionals and others who wish to speak publicly
around the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s decision of November
18, 2003, we offer this information to support your conversations:
- There are many religious people from many religious traditions who support
the right of same-sex couples to marry. Unitarian Universalists have long
been among them. Unitarian Universalists affirm that it is the presence of
love and commitment that we value. For Unitarian Universalists, it is homophobia
that is the sin, not homosexuality.
Religious pluralism is a reality in America.. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs,
Ba'hais, Buddhists, Taoists, agnostics, and atheists are all citizens of this
great country. The task of our government and elected representatives is not
to enshrine the religious point of view of any one faith in our laws; the
role of our government is to dedicate itself to protecting the rights of all
citizens. In this issue, Unitarian Universalists are proud to stand on the
side of love.
Evan Wolfson, Executive Director of Freedom to Marry, notes four
points where efforts need to focus 
in these post-election days and months: work to continue to secure marriage
equality in more states, alongside Massachusetts, Canada, and other leading
democracies in Europe and other parts of the world; work to repel anti-gay
attacks at either the state or national level; contest the appointment of
judges not committed to equality for all; and continue to speak to and reach
out to more non-gay allies, particularly youth
.
- Marriage equality in Massachusetts has had absolutely no negative effect
on family structure or community values. Families have been strengthened by
marriage equality because today the families of same-sex couples have the
legal protections they need and deserve.
Exit polling taken on November 2 indicates, according to The
New York Times ,
that 62 percent of those queried support either equal marriage or civil unions.
In Massachusetts, predictions of a voter backlash against those who supported
equal marriage proved false. In fact, supporters of marriage equality actually
gained support in the Legislature.
In fact, freedom to marry has resulted in the legal protection of loving families,
and the maintenance of those values which our society holds dear – now
open to all committed couples.
- Marriage equality affirms the core values of our Unitarian Universalist
faith.
Unitarian Universalism has a longstanding commitment to supporting equality
for all people. In 1996, our General Assembly became the first mainline denomination
to pass a resolution
in support of civil marriage for same-sex couples. This action only added
support to a history of action that included Equality
in Ministerial Employment Opportunities – 1980, and supporting Legal
Equality for Gays and Lesbians.
Unitarian Universalism, with its message of respect for the inherent
worth and dignity of every person will continue to stand on the side of
equality and love as we celebrate the first anniversary of this historic civil
rights decision.
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