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BRIEF HISTORY OF TRIANGLES:
Triangles began before OUUC (Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation) became a Welcoming Congregation,
as a place for gay people to connect. The Triangles Group helped out at OUUC as a group on various projects and marched in
the Gay Pride Parade with the Unitarian Universalist banner.
Today we still march in the Olympia Gay Pride Parade
each year, carrying our own Triangles Unitarian Universalist banner. In addition, Triangles create and present the annual
Gay Pride Service (or, at least part of it) at both UU churches, and sponsor events at OUUC which concern Gays, Lesbians,
Bisexuals and Transgender persons.
What is a Welcoming Congregation? The Living Tradition of Universalism extends
love and acceptance to all people, and Unitarianism recognizes the inherent good of all persons.
In 1970, the General
Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association passed its first General resolution supporting the gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender communities in their struggle for equal rights and acceptance.
The Unitarian Universalist commitment
to become a safe and affirming place for all persons regardless of sexual orientation took on a new meaning and intensity
with the passage of The Welcoming Congregation Resolution at the 1989 General Assembly.
Acknowledging that every UU
congregation reflects our societys homophobia to a degree, the delegates voted to initiate a sustained and systematic program
designed to help congregations create a truly welcoming environment for all persons. The resolution envisioned a future with
Unitarian Universalist congregations becoming truly welcoming places for all persons.
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These Welcoming Congregations would:
* Be inclusive and expressive of the concerns of gay community persons at every level of congregational life.
*
Celebrate the lives of all people and welcome same-gender couples, recognizing their committed relationships and equally affirming
displays of caring and affection with regard to sexual orientation.
* Seek to nurture ongoing dialogue between
the gay community and heterosexual persons, and create deeper trust and sharing.
* Advocate for the gay community
attending to legislative developments and working to promote justice, freedom and equality in the larger society.
*
Speak out when the rights of gay community people are at stake.
In order for a congregation to officially become a
Welcoming Congregation, it must complete an actual program. It takes months and, after doing everything required, the congregation
receives recognition officially as a Welcoming Congregation.
The Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation IS
officially a Welcoming Congregation.
All Souls Unitarian Universalist Community has not yet gone through the process
of becoming an official Welcoming Congregation, but in spirit they are truly a welcoming congregation.
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