LGBTQA Welcoming Committee Displays New Rainbow Flag

​When you drive by the A Street side of the Unitarian Church of Lincoln, look for the flag from the LGBTQA Welcoming Committee displayed next to the Black Lives Matter banner. 

We are proud to display the flag because it represents how far the LGBTQA community has come in the past 50 years.

The history of the rainbow flag begins with the San Francisco Parade's Organizing Committee adopting the LGBT Rainbow Flag design in 1982. They decided that red would stand for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for serenity, and violet for spirit. The rainbow flag was quickly adopted by LGBTQA organizations all over the United States and, indeed, all over the world.

Graphic designer Daniel Quasar added a five-colored chevron to the LGBTQ+ Rainbow Flag to place greater emphasis on "inclusion and progression". He uses black and brown stripes to represent LGBTQ+ communities of color, with the blue stripe representing transgender males, the pink stripe representing transgender females, and the white triangle representing individuals who are gender neutral or gender fluid. He borrowed these colors from the Transgender Pride Flag, which was designed by Monica Helms in 1999.

As we in the queer community have sought to be inclusive of individuals with fluid gender expression and identity, we are gratified to see the larger community in Lincoln do the same in schools, churches, organizations, and businesses.

STAR CITY PRIDE PARADE "TOGETHER WE RISE"
Saturday, June 19 • 10:00AM - 12:00PM • Nebraska State Capitol Building

Thousands showed up to completely ring themselves around the state Capitol.  And our colorful float and supporters were a big attraction.

Please email our wonderful organizer Shelly Fowler at seeshells@gmail.com with any Pride questions.

by Deb Hope - she • her • hers pronouns

The LGBTQA Welcoming Congregation Committee offered a series of four adult education classes on Saturdays in February. The topics included Pronouns and Inclusive Language, Renewing Our Welcoming Congregation Status, LGBTQ History of Lincoln, NE, and How To Be An Advocate.

The Zoom classes were well-received and led to some good discussion. The committee appreciates everyone who gave up an hour on their Saturday to help us be a more welcoming church for people from across the sexual orientation and gender identity spectrums.

If anyone was unable to attend and would like to receive the materials that were shared, contact Deb Hope at debra.a.hope@gmail.com.  If you would like to view the PowerPoints for these classes, please put this link in your browser:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZsmDL9TY6Dqdec9YL8TcbdNS45hDgWen?usp=sharing

MALE TO FEMALE TRANSITION Age 55 | Offered by LGBTQAI+ Member Michelle Howard

Saturday, November 13 and 20, 1:00 - 2:00PM • Zoom

How to start the transition process, coming out to family and friends, being your true self, gaining a support system including finding a loving caring church like the UU church of Lincoln. This class ties in with the covenant of the Unitarian Church of Lincoln by encouraging an inclusive community and providing a safe place to explore ideas about how transitioning affects an individual and how our church can be supportive of that.

Please contact Michelle at michellehow2020@gmail.com to sign up!

Members Shelly, Michelle, and Heather of the LGBTQA Welcoming Committee were interviewed by Rev Sinclair for the worship service on February 28, 2021. We shared information on our renewal process as a Welcoming Committee and Congregation, as well as our own personal stories as LGBTQA individuals.

If you would like to view this worship service again, click on the link below:

https://youtu.be/8QCOMnY-e4U

LGBTQA Welcoming Session  
Saturday, February 27, 2021; 10:00 - 11:00AM; Contact Deb Hope (debra.a.hope@gmail.com) for more information or the Zoom link. 
 
HOW TO BE AN ADVOCATE, NOT JUST AN ALLY
Date: Feb 27 
Leaders: BJ Wheeler and Pam Wakeman

LOOKING FOR POWERPOINTS TO RECENT CLASSES?
If you would like to view the PowerPoints we have done so far, please put this link in your browser:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZsmDL9TY6Dqdec9YL8TcbdNS45hDgWen?usp=sharin

Learn which pronouns LGBTQ+ individuals prefer, and find out the meaning of deadnames.