Happy Valentine's Day

I went to the Tennessean's website today and saw this picture with the caption "Looking for Love? Check out the best places in Nashville to find love."

There is, indeed, a long unwritten history of people finding love (or fleeting things somewhat like it) at the Capitol, but it would not be my first thought.

But while we're talking about finding love at the Capitol on Valentine's Day, it seems like a good time to remind everyone what we're fighting for in the Legislature this year. It's love. I know some people want to reduce our community to sex, and sex they're not comfortable with, even though some of their best friends are G, L, B, or T. But we're in it for love. You can't build a life with a partner or raise children without love. You can't spend hours advocating for your community's rights without love.

To our friends on the Right, we wish you the best in your marriages. We hope your children grow up to be strong, healthy, smart, active members of their communities. We wish you wanted the same thing for us. But until you do or whether you do, our love will sustain us. Love is at the heart of our movement and our persistence is proof that love conquers all.

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Bridging the liberal-orthodox divide

The Rev. Gail Seavey, minister of First Unitarian Universalist in Nashville, discusses the tragic shooting at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville. She mentions the 2006 marriage summit at First UU, which equipped Unitarians across the state to get involved in the Tennessee Equality Project's Vote No on 1 campaign.

She also mentions some of the bridge building that occurred across the liberal-orthodox divide:

We were grateful, but not surprised by the respectful support the Knoxville police and about 40 mental health institutions have given. But I confess, I was surprised by the outpouring of food, sanctuary, love and public support from the Knoxville religious community, liberal and orthodox.