Gender variance in spirituality: Difference between revisions

Unitarian Universalism, a liberal religion with roots in liberal Christianity, became the first denomination to accept openly transgender people as full members with eligibility to become clergy (in 1979),<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.uua.org/lgbtq/history/185789.shtml |title=Unitarian Universalist LGBTQ History & Facts |publisher=Unitarian Universalist Association |accessdate= 2014-05-02|date=2013-05-16 }}</ref> and the first to open an Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Concerns (in 1973).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.uua.org/directory/staff/multiculturalgrowth/lesbiangay/ |title= Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Ministries |publisher= Unitarian Universalist Association |accessdate= 2014-05-02|date= 2012-10-09 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_uua.htm|title= The Unitarian Universalist Association and Homosexuality |publisher= Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance}}</ref> In 1988 the first openly transgender person was ordained by the Unitarian Universalist Association.<ref name=uua.org>{{cite web|title= Unitarian Universalist LGBTQ History & Facts|url= http://www.uua.org/lgbtq/history/185789.shtml|work= Unitarian Universalist Association|publisher=Unitarian Universalist Association|accessdate=2 April 2013|date=21 August 2012}}</ref> In 2002 Rev. Sean Dennison became the first openly transgender person in the Unitarian Universalist ministry called to serve a congregation; he was called to South Valley UU Society, Salt Lake City, UT.<ref name="uua.org"/> Also in 2017, the Unitarian Universalist Association's General Assembly voted to create inclusive wordings for non-binary, genderqueer, gender fluid, agender, intersex, two-spirit and polygender people, replacing the words "men and women" with the word "people." Of the six sources of the living tradition, the second source of faith, as documented in the bylaws of the denomination, now includes "Words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love".<ref>{{cite web|author=Zr. Alex Kapitan Activist, Organizer &amp; Educator |url=https://www.believeoutloud.com/latest/unitarian-universalist-general-assembly-votes-change-uu-bylaws-include-non-binary-people#comment-7295 |title=Unitarian Universalist General Assembly Votes To Change UU Bylaws To Include Non-Binary People |publisher=Believe Out Loud |date=2017-06-30 |accessdate=2017-07-08}}</ref>