This blog post originally appeared in our February newsletter. Have you ever felt affirmed?  That feeling that someone sees you deeply, recognizes who you are, and finds it wonderful?  This is so much more than acceptance, definitely more than tolerance. I am proud to be part of a welcoming and affirming faith, partnered with so many other souls who recognize each person, in their full diversity of being.  And this includes a person’s sexuality—a complex blend of their identities, their actions, and who they love. Our February theme is “LGBTQ and Religion”—what do we mean by that? Well, first, let’s spell out the acronym–Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning/Queer.  We’re looking at our values as Unitarian Universalists as well as the values, scripture, and realities of religions over the last few millennia. In Sunday School, this conversation will happen at several levels concentrating on Unitarian Universalist values.  Our youngest classes will talk about love, families of all kinds, and the importance of embracing difference as we respect all people. Our older classes will take on some of the same topics as the Adult Ed track, from historical and scriptural realities, to how our faith calls us to know ourselves, affirm all people, and work to build the world we dream about. With love, Katy Carpman Director of Religious Education