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A crowd of more than 100 people gathered in Hendersonville, North Carolina, last Friday to call for a repeal of the notorious anti-transgender law, House Bill 2. The Rev. Jim McKinley of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hendersonville thanked state leaders for awakening his awareness of transgender concerns with this law. He said that in addition to advocating for its repeal, his church will be organizing a transgender 101 class very soon. (BlueRidgeNow.com – 4.16.16)
At the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ashville, North Carolina, more than 200 people attended a panel discussion to educate the community around opposing House Bill 2. Panelists included representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and the NAACP. (Ashville Citizen-Times – 4.22.16)
More coverage:
“Anti-HB2 groups to discuss law here Thursday” (Ashville Citizen-Times – 4.19.16)
Islamic center shares worship space with UUs
Hearing of its neighbor’s need for a temporary worship space, a mosque in East Lansing offered up the use of its building to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing, Michigan. No rent is being charged, but the church plans to donate their offering plate once a month, and the Center has promised to share all or part of that with Islamic Relief USA. (Religion News Service – 4.19.16)
More coverage:
“Working together: Unitarians share Islamic Center space” (Lansing State Journal – 4.18.16)
Examining racism and white privilege
As the conversation about racism grows nationally, many faith groups are using their religious spaces to examine racism and white privilege. Unitarian Universalist minister the Rev. Rob Keithan is teaching a white ally course at All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington, D.C. “White people have the responsibility to educate white people about race and racism,” Keithan said. (Religion News Service – 4.19.16)