President of the Board of Directors - August 2010

 by Phil Wheeler Board of Directors President

Sue and I attended the service today (Sunday July 18) organized by the Social Justice Council GLBTA Task Group.  As part of the service, task group member Kim Edson read the UUA resolution against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation passed at the General Assembly in 1970.  I had no idea we have been at this for 40 years.  We have a long and sometimes proud history of standing on the side of love.

Because of the action of the Rochester City Council on Wednesday, July 7, task group member Bernie Lee was able to read parts of the ordinance Rochester adopted in order to establish a domestic partner registry in our community.  The July 7 meeting was a proud moment for Rochester, especially considering that a mere thirteen years ago, the Rochester City Council voted 5 to 2 against amending its human rights ordinance to address discrimination on the   basis of sexual orientation. (The issue was then addressed by the County's adoption of a comprehensive human rights ordinance.)

The registry ordinance is as far as local units of government can go with regard to recognizing domestic partners. While private employers in Minnesota and public and private employers in other states can recognize such relationships in access to insurance benefits and in other ways, local governments in Minnesota are prohibited by state law from extending fringe benefits to domestic partners.  We have a very long way to go in Minnesota in eliminating such discrimination.

Nevertheless, we should celebrate when we can. Our UU booth at last weekend's Pridefest, prominently located at the entrance to the Peace Plaza, was well staffed, well attended, and well stocked with information witnessing to our congregational and denominational commitment.

 Among the visions approved by the Board in 2009, to be discussed at our August 7 Board  Retreat, is to "bring our value-based UU principles to life in the wider community."  Part of the business of the church is the transformation of society.  Let us be glad of the progress we make, but let us also remember that we have more work to do.