We last posted here in 2020! 

2020.  It’s been a long three years, and as we wind our way out of the silence, we wanted to say hello and give you a bit of an update. 

First, we’re growing!  We expect to be close to 150 members when all is said and done.  We are pleased and honored and excited and humbled by the number of trans religious professionals who have joined us in the last few years, and grateful for everyone’s patience as we have moved through the onboarding backlog.  If you are, or know someone who has not applied for membership and wishes to do so, now is a good time.  If you did apply and you haven’t heard from us by April 15, check your spam folder, and if there’s nothing there, send an email to sky at admin@transuu.org and we’ll get you in process.

Second: we’re restructuring!  Or maybe structuring-the-first-time is more accurate. As we grow, we need more structure and systems, so we’re putting them in.  Longtime members will have seen evidence of this in things like setting up a better email system, revitalizing this blog, setting up regular online social events to supplement our regular retreats, and creating other backend improvements.  If you’re a member, check your email for more details.

Third: as part of that restructuring, we have (very part-time) staff!  Rev. Leela Sinha (ze/zim) is our interim director, and Rev. Sky Williams Tao (they/them) is our administrator.  Please welcome them as they support us in moving forward into our future form. If you need to contact us, start with admin@transuu.org and you’ll get routed to the right person.

We have so many exciting ideas and possibilities ahead of us, and we’re so glad you’re reading along here as we pick up steam.  Check back for more updates as we go!

Thank you so much for being here.  We’re truly glad you’re with us.

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Calling All Trans/Non-Binary UUs: Online Worship and Fellowship During General Assembly

TRUUsT would like to welcome all trans/non-binary UUs to join together for worship and fellowship Wednesday June 24th at 4pm Eastern / 1pm Pacific. Please contact CommUUnityLibrary@gmail.com for the Zoom room information.
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Putting the “T” First: Public Statement on This Week’s UU World Article

Nothing We Do Will Be Perfect. The irony of the cover of the print issue of the spring 2019 UU World has not been lost on the membership of TRUUsT and our greater trans* community.

The UU World’s article titled “After L, G, and B” frames the trans experience by centering a white, heterosexual, cisgender woman’s experience. By doing so, it reduces trans people to objects—something that happens far too often in society and in our UU communities. The use of harmful slurs, the conflation of intersex and trans experience, and a repeated focus on surgery, hormones, and pronouns perpetuates stereotypes around trans experiences that devalues the gifts we have to bring to the world and Unitarian Universalism.

The impact of this article will have long-lasting effects. While the UU World has a vital role in communicating issues of importance to Unitarian Universalists around the world, often representing the leading edge and the best in our UU faith, it is that trust and faith in this magazine which makes this article all the more harmful. Well-meaning people who have no other known relationship to or interaction with trans lives will now believe that these words and actions are acceptable. They are not! Continue reading

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TRUUsT Releases Report on the Experiences of Trans Unitarian Universalists

Experiences of Trans Unitarian Universalists: Report on the 2018 Survey of Trans UUsToday, TRUUsT has released a report that provides an unprecedented look at the the experiences of trans Unitarian Universalists, based on a survey of hundreds of trans UUs conducted in spring 2018 by TRUUsT and the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Multicultural Ministries office.

The report provides a portrait of who trans UUs are, shares trends in their experiences of inclusion and marginalization in UU congregations, gives a snapshot of the particular experiences of trans religious professionals, and offers actions that all Unitarian Universalists can take to improve the experiences of trans people within Unitarian Universalism. Continue reading

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TRUUsT Announces New Service Directory of Trans and/or People of Color UU Religious Professionals

Hire us!

TRUUsT is excited to announce the launch of a new service directory of trans and/or people of color Unitarian Universalist community ministers, religious educators, and other religious professionals who are available to do consultations, trainings, guest preaching, and other work with UU congregations, regions, and other groups. Continue reading

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Prayers for Trans Day of Remembrance 2018

CandleToday, November 20, we mourn, along with trans people and our loved ones all over the world. In the words of Monica Roberts:

“It’s been 20 years since Gwen Smith created the TDOR to remember the people that we have lost due to anti-trans violence. And it’s also been 20 years since Rita Hester was murdered, and her killer not being brought to justice. We have another 22 people who were murdered in 2018 [in the USA], and as per usual in the States, they are disproportionately African American trans people. Internationally Brazil depressingly leads the pack in being the most dangerous nation to be trans.

“Say their names. Their trans lives mattered.”

As trans Unitarian Universalist leaders, we grieve our fallen kindred, we offer care to each other and our communities, and we vow to keep fighting. Below are three prayers offered by TRUUsT members, trans Unitarian Universalist leaders. Continue reading

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TRUUsT Calls on All Unitarian Universalists to Take Action to Support Trans UUs

take action.pngUnitarian Universalism is a faith that values gender diversity and affirms the sacredness of all genders. We strive to be a religion where trans people can find a spiritual home and bring forward spiritual gifts born of a unique and valuable perspective on the world. We support our trans and gender creative children and youth, we offer rituals of healing and validation to trans people in transition, and we honor our trans leaders and religious professionals.

In the wake of recent events and the Trump administration’s continued assault on trans lives, TRUUsT calls on Unitarian Universalists everywhere to take immediate action to live out the above truths and directly support trans UUs. Unitarian Universalism’s commitment to trans lives is all too often aspirational rather than true today. According to a recent survey, only 28% of trans UUs feel that their congregation is fully inclusive of them as trans people. We need this to change, because trans lives are at stake.

Will you take action to care for the trans people within Unitarian Universalism who need the support of our faith community right now? Below are five actions that TRUUsT calls on UUs everywhere to take. We hope we can count on you to act and share this call. Continue reading

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Interim TRUUsT Steering Committee

TRUUsT is happy to announce that three members of our community have volunteered to serve as interim/acting steering committee members and help TRUUsT move forward in our work as a community. After putting out a call for volunteers, exactly the number of folks we needed volunteered: Adrian Ballou, Christe Lunsford, and Andre Mol.

TRUUsT’s current practice is to elect new steering committee members at our annual retreat, which is currently planned for early 2019. So until then, meet TRUUsT’s interim steering committee! Continue reading

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Update on TRUUsT Leadership

TRUUsT is saddened to share that Rev. Anya Johnston and Terry Cummings are no longer on the steering committee of TRUUsT. Both Anya and Terry profoundly broke the TRUUsT covenant and would not engage in efforts to call them back to covenant.

As a Unitarian Universalist covenanted community of multiply marginalized people, our shared agreements are deeply rooted in our faith and our belief that how we are together is the first and foremost way we can create the change we seek in the world. Without a covenant, there is no trust, and without trust, there can be no TRUUsT. Continue reading

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Prayer for Trans* Day of Visibility

by Mr. Barb Greve

TDOV2018

Blessed are the trailblazers,
who brought us this far,
and are still trailblazing…
still celebrating.

Blessed are the drag queens and kings,
who remind us to not take life too seriously.

Blessed are the gender benders, non-binary, gender fluid, and third-gender folk, those who challenge us to reframe our gender paradigm.

Continue reading

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