"To seek justice, to work for the Beloved Community is simply
part of what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. Faith exists by mission as a
fire exists by burning. Our faith gives us a place to stand in the
midst of a world that seems to have lost its way." Rev. Richard Gilbert
UUPLAN and the state-by-state UU movement :
UUs have formed state advocacy networks in 11 states under the basic principle that sustained, positive change is built through the work of organized activists with the courage to challenge and confront oppression. Through this work we seek to build our faith and give voice to Unitarian Universalist principles in the public square.
UUPLAN had its organizational meeting Sept. 29, 2007, at the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg. We were 23 activists representing 12 congregations from one end of the state to the other. We selected a board, approved bylaws, and determined the first issues we will focus on.
During 2008, we wrote to and met with our state representatives regarding HB 1400 and SB 761, which prohibited discrimination against gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people in housing, public accommodations and employment. We held a successful lobby day Jan. 29 in Harrisburg, which involved 24 UUs from eight churches.
We held our annual meeting in Devon, where 35 UUs from the eastern half of the state gathered to learn from State Sen. Andrew Dinniman about being effective advocates.
One of our board members reviewed the status of Pennsylvania UUs. About 6,000 UUs are spread among 38 churches. While 10 churches in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh account for about 2,400 of those, another 26 churches cover a lot of ground—and a lot of legislative districts—between those two cities. Just a few calls in each of these districts can make the difference in whether or not a bill makes it through the house or senate. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh legislators tend to be more supportive of progressive legislation, so UUPLAN's challenge is to energize activists in the rest of the state's churches.
Sen. Dinniman shared many of his own experiences of building coalitions in the senate, where, as a Democrat, he is in a distinct minority. He offered many encouraging words to the group—assuring them that significant change often comes about only after a small minority has agitated for change against long odds and over long periods of time.
2009 Report
Lobby days: On March 17 and May 12, dozens of UUs came to Harrisburg to talk to their legislators about three of the bills we focused on this year:
House Bill 300: Granting LGBT persons the right to fairness in housing and employment under the state's Human Rights Act.
HB 1: Extending adultBasic to add nearly 100,000 people to this program, which provides subsidized health care to only 43,000 of the working poor. Nearly 500,000 Pennsylvanians qualify for the program.
HB 726: Capping insurance premium hikes for small businesses at a maximum 10% per year and requiring premiums to be calculated on a regional level, not employer by employer. Pennsylvania is one of only two states that leaves small employers at the mercy of insurance companies.
In October, we organized our first-ever In-District Lobby Days, encouraging UUs to visit their legislators in their home offices. As in March and May, we provided UUs with the resources they needed to lobby effectively on health care and GLBT issues.
Year-end liaison reports
Health Care: Cynthia Jones, Buxmont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
UUPLAN worked with the Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) to lobby for two bills which Gov. Rendell has signed. One permits parents to keep their children on their health insurance plans until they turn 30. The second allows employees of small companies to continue company-subsidized health insurance if they are laid off. Our hopes for AdultBasic—extending coverage to more working adults—were frustrated by the budget impasse.
GLBT: Alanna Berger, Unitarian Church of Harrisburg
We started the year by asking our legislators to vote for HB300 - protection from discrimination in employment, housing, lending, and public accommodations in February and March, when the bill passed the State Government committee. The bill is stalled by the budget negotiations.In July, Sen. Daylin Leach introduced SB935, legislation that supports Same-Sex Marriage. The UUA considers this issue of paramount importance, and I was invited to represent UUPLAN and attend Sen. Leach's press conference announcing introduction of the bill.
In October, our issue partner, Equality Advocates, announced its Freedom Campaign, with a prioritized list of bills that would help guarantee full equality for our fellow GLBT Pennsylvanians, including HB300, passage of the Hate Crimes legislation (HB745), improved anti-bullying legislation, foster-care protections and relationship recognition. Of these issues, Hate Crimes legislation saw activity in the House Judiciary committee in November. Although it passed relatively easily, it needs our continued support to make it out of the House to the Senate. The Governor has said he would sign the bill.
Building the organization:Early in 2009, we hired Stacey Sobel, a nonprofit consultant, to help take UUPLAN to the next level. Stacey's 16-page strategic plan was chockablock with good ideas for making UUPLAN a respected voice in Harrisburg. We used this report as the basis of a grant application to the Unitarian Universalist Funding Program. In December, 2009, we learned our grant application to hire a part-time outreach coordinator was successful. We are excited about the implications for 2010 of being able to hire someone to help fulfill the promise of UUPLAN.
Annual Meeting Recap:
UUPLAN had its annual meeting on Sept. 12, 2009 at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Berks County in Reading. The highlights are below.
Opening words
GLBT news
Health care news
Featured speakerOpening words
We got our day started right with words from the Rev. Suzanne Marsh, who is associate minister of Unitarian Church of Harrisburg.We light our chalice this morning as a people who are bound together by our common principles. Principles that call us to seek justice and equity for all, to facilitate the democratic process, to search for truth and meaning and to strive together for spiritual growth. But above all they call us to love one another.
LGBT news
Alanna Berger, also of Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, is UUPLAN's issue coordinator on LGBT issues. Her update:
Former UUA President John Buehrens spoke at the April 2009 conference that brings together representatives of all UU state advocacy networks. Rev. Buehrens is chair of the steering committee for the Freedom to Marry. Some of his points:
- In California, effectiveness in all areas of social justice advocacy has been directly influenced by UU involvement in marriage equality efforts. UUs are uniquely poised to make a difference on marriage equality.
- This issue WILL be a winning issue. Not only because it's about love, but also about faith, hope, and human dignity. We will win it within our lifetime, perhaps in a little over a decade.
- In November, after Prop 8 was passed, the UUA came out with a video - the picture of our UUPLAN rally last year was the second slide.
Update on what's coming up this year:
- We will host a conference call with Jake Kaskey of Equality Advocates on Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m., when he will unveil plans to help us prepare for our planned in-district days on Oct. 23-24.
- Continue to partner with Equality Advocates and the Value All Families Coalition (VAFC) in support of HB 300 (extends anti-discrimination law to LGBT persons). We will monitor hate crimes legislation to be introduced by Rep. Josh Shapiro.
- National Equality March in Washington, D.C., October 11. UUs are encouraged to go to All Souls UU Church, where the Rev. Peter Morales will be preaching, or have a local event. Example: UU Church of Lancaster is hosting the Central PA second annual multi-congregational Association Sunday on October 4, including seven congregations. Meg Barnhouse will be speaking and the message will be Standing on the Side of Love.
Health care news
Cynthia Jones, of BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, is our issue coordinator on health care issues. Her update:
- Berry Friesen of the PA Health Access Network (PHAN) spoke at our annual meeting and will be on our Sept. 30 conference call.
- He asked us to continue pressing for House Bill 746, which provides rate protection for small business owners, and House Bill 1, which increases funding for the Adult Basic program, which provides coverage for uninsured working adults who cannot afford coverage on their own.
- He said three favorable bills have passed this session. 1) Reauthorizing the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, which allows people to compare cost and outcomes of health care providers around the state. 2) Allow adult dependents up to age 30 to remain on their parents’ health insurance policy if they do not have access to health care. 3) A mini-COBRA bill, which provides a subsidy to help laid-off people afford COBRA coverage for nine months.
Featured speaker
Our speaker was Pete Trufahnestock, who is currently a lobbyist for Philadelphia Gas Works. Previous employers include Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future and Pennsylvania Legislative Services, a legislative news service. He also spent six years at the Office of Attorney General, primarily as a Public Education Specialist in the Press Office. Pete is also a member of the Unitarian Church in Harrisburg.Pete was engaging, funny, knowledgeable, and patient in answering our many questions about how Harrisburg works. Click on this attachment to see his handout, which summarizes his advice on How to Talk to Your Legislator.
UUSC Head Encourages State Activists
Dr. Charlie Clements, head of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee met recently with UUPLAN President Casey Aspin to talk about the work UUs are doing at the state level to promote progressive change. Hear his thoughts on why state action makes a difference and the change he expects with the election of President Obama, or download a MP3 of the interview here.
State Action Networks across the U.S.
California and New York were the first states to establish networks (five years and 20 years ago, respectively). The growth of networks was significantly enhanced by the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee's decision in 2004 to offer start-up grants to state networks, including UUPLAN.UUPLAN's counterpoints around the country are:
UU legislative Ministry of California
Deepening Faith, Growing Leadership, Building JusticeUU legislative Ministry of Maryland
...Envisioning a Maryland free of oppression and injustice, where all are guaranteed their human rights....UU Massachusetts Action Network
...From Cacophony to Choir, Raising UU Voices for JusticeMichigan UU Social Justice Network
Networking for Justice and Community ServiceMinnesota UU Social Justice Alliance
Bringing UUs Together to Work Collectively for Social Change.UU Action Network of NH
Giving Voice to our ValuesInterfaith Impact of New York State
Liberal and progressive religious faiths advocating for compassion, reason and justice in NYS public policiesRhode Island UU for Social Change
Washington State UU Voices for Justice
A Progressive Legislative Advocacy Network
