UUFR Protects NC Families: UUFR in the Press!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

UUFR in the Press!

In the past few days, UUFR's name has been in the media associated with our efforts to fight Amendment One.

First, on Monday, UUFR members including Bob Chapman (pictured left) and Tracy Hollister (pictured below with Georgia Winfree of Someone's Sister, who rocked UUFR on Sat 2/18 at the benefit concert) were among about 20 speakers at Monday's Wake County Board of Commissioners meeting who spoke out against Chairman Paul Coble's resolution in support of Amendment One.

UUFR Social Action Committee members Jane Hunt, Robin Allen, and others were also in the audience. Unfortunately, the Commissioners passed the resolution 4-3 along party lines. Here is the Newsobserver.com coverage, including UUFR's name in the photo caption (which has since been published in the Charlotte Observer, where over 300 people commented on the article).

The Coalition to Protect NC Families circulated a petition after the meeting to Wake County residents saying that Paul Coble (Board Chair, pictured here) does not speak for us. Sign it! As of Feb 23rd, the goal is 15,000.

Second, the Independent's Bob Geary, who attended UUFR's 2/18 benefit concert, wrote this article in IndyWeek.com about both the concert and our phone banks.

UUFR Statement of Conscience -- Unanimously Approved 1/29/2012

We, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh, affirm justice, equity, and compassion in human relations, and the inherent worth and dignity of all persons.

As we unanimously agreed in our 2004 congregational statement of conscience, we “affirm the basic right of same-gender couples to marry and to share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities, and commitments of civil marriage”

In the absence of this right to marry, we resolve to oppose any law, policy, or practice that limits the recognition of same-gender couples’ relationships and families and any related rights and protections. We are especially called to oppose any attempt to enshrine such discrimination in the North Carolina Constitution.

We further resolve to that we will respect and protect same-gender couples and their families by raising awareness of the discriminatory effects of any proposed laws or constitutional amendments. We will also take specific actions to defeat such laws or constitutional amendments.