We, the congregation at First Universalist Unitarian Church of Wausau, Wisconsin, convenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person as stated in the First Principle of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.

In November of 2003, by congregational vote, we became a Welcoming Congregation. Along with 485 other Unitarian Universalist congregations across the nation, we pledged “to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person”, embracing the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered community and providing a welcoming place of worship. Currently in the state of Wisconsin, an amendment to the state constitution has been proposed: "Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state."

This amendment will write exclusion and intolerance into our state constitution, denying basic rights to citizens of this state and therefore denying the First Principle of our church. This amendment will ban civil unions and threaten legal protection for unmarried couples of all genders. The amendment does not address the right of these unmarried couples to seek religious approval of their unions. Rather, it addresses the right of Gay, Lesbian and unmarried couples to state recognition of their unions so they may have the same financial, legal, health, and social protections as those of civil marriage.

The First Principle affirms the worth and dignity of every person. It does not exclude persons on the basis of sexual or gender identity or orientation. As exclusion becomes acceptable policy in our state and in our country, we are called to put our First Principal into action, to speak out publicly against those who would persecute members of the GLBT community and deny them basic rights.

Therefore, may it be resolved that the First Universalist Unitarian Church of Wausau, Wisconsin opposes the proposed constitutional amendment to ban civil unions and same-gender marriage. We call upon the leadership of this congregation to take action to ensure full civil rights for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered community. As individuals of this congregation, we pledge our support to the actions of our leadership and encourage individual efforts to achieve equal rights for all persons.

First Universalist Unitarian Church

Wausau, Wisconsin