Local UU Ministers Support Reproductive Justice
Roe v. Wade Overturned
What Would the End of Roe Mean?
Dear Men,
And by that, I mean people, all people. I am tired of women’s marches, women’s rallies, women’s rights, and women’s issues. I am tired of the binary divide between women and men, by which most people mean cisgender women and cisgender men. I am tired of the near-constant attacks on the rights of all people.
We are interdependent. An attack on the rights of one, impacts the rights of all, even if those impacts are not always
Emerson UU Church Trusts and Respects Women
Emerson is one of four churches in Houston, TX that voted in 2018 to become a Reproductive Freedom Congregation.
What is a Reproductive Freedom Congregation? Reproductive Freedom Congregations publicly affirm three principles:
- We trust and respect women.
- We promise that people who attend our congregation will be free from stigma, shame, or judgment for their reproductive decisions, including abortion.
- We believe access to comprehensive and affordable reproductive health services is a moral and social good.
Learn more at https://justtx.org.
Emersonians at City Hall on May 3, 2022
What UU’s Can Do
- Consult the UUA’s Congregational Reproductive Justice Action Guide (https://sidewithlove.org/upliftaction )
- Attend / support Planned Parenthood’s activities,such as the Annual luncheon on March 3, 2023 in Houston
- Attend ACLU’s Texas Abortion Access Network Academy, a comprehensive course which provides tools to be leaders in protecting abortion access. Includes best tactics in Texas today, de-stigmatizing abortion, and collaboration / networking. It starts in March 2023, 1 hour per week, every other week for 12 sessions.
- Support Organizations Supporting Reproductive Health & Justice with
• Assistance Funds
• Support for Minors
• Options Counseling & Phone Support
• Clinics
• Travel Funds - Contact representatives to encourage passage of relevant legislation
From the UUA President: UUs Remain Committed to Reproductive Justice
This decision manifests the worst fears of those of us who have been working for decades to protect and affirm reproductive rights.
The Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health decision does not alter Unitarian Universalists’ commitment to Reproductive Justice.
The overwhelming majority of Unitarian Universalists (UUs) support keeping abortion legal in all or most cases. This is rooted in our Principles and our core religious beliefs that affirm gender equity. It also reflects a moral commitment to the idea that reproductive care is healthcare and is essential to the well-being of individuals and families.
What You Can Do
Vote
“Our very right to vote is inextricably linked to our reproductive freedom. Without equal access to the vote, we cannot protect reproductive freedom and abortion access,” said Jordan Brooks, executive director of United State of Women.
Make sure you are registered to vote.
Contact Your Elected Officials
The League of Women Voters has a handy tool to find your elected officials.
Show Up
Take a stance and rally in support of abortion rights. Show up to demand elected officials to take every measure to defend abortion rights.
Stay Informed
If you’re going to fight back, you need to stay informed. A few places to start: Planned Parenthood, Center for Reproductive Rights, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Religious Coalition for Reproduction Choice, and Women’s March.
Also see ACLU Abortion Access Academy Network at https://www.aclutx.org/en/campaigns/texas-abortion-access-network
Podcasts
March 26, 2022 – State of Belief Podcast: The Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter, senior minister of First Unitarian Church of Dallas, joins Rev. Welton Gaddy, host of State of Belief, to discuss the faithful opposition to anti-choice laws in Texas – including physically accompanying women across state lines for necessary heath care.
Additional Resources
