STANDING – AND MARCHING – ON THE SIDE OF LOVE!

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS

JOIN THE MARCH FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY

February 9-15, 2012

From Vancouver to the front steps of the State Capitol in Olympia

Washington State Unitarian Universalist Voices for Justice will join our faith community partners making a statement in support for marriage equality. 

“The Love for All March for Marriage Equality” is an opportunity for teams of walkers to rally public opinion in favor of a marriage equality bill being introduced, at Governor Gregoire’s request, in the Legislature.

The march itself will stretch over a hundred miles from Vancouver to Olympia, but don’t let that distance deter you from participating!   We will conquer this distance by covering it with teams of walkers of all abilities.

It will work this way: Each team will commit to walking at least one of the seven days required to make this march. While the team as a whole will seek to cover all of the miles designated for their day of walking, individual participants can walk as much or as little as they want.  What matters is not how far any single person walks, but rather the statement we make as people united behind a cause. We value everyone’s participation in making this statement.

Daily Plan:  Over the course of seven days, teams of walkers will walk from Vancouver to Olympia during the daylight hours of 8 am to 4 pm. The walkers will walk between 13 and 18 miles a day depending upon the day they are walking. Each day of the march will follow a pre‐determined route that will have a definite beginning point and end point. Here is a rough approximation of the march:

Thursday, February 9th:     From Vancouver to La Center—16 miles

Friday, February 10th:        From La Center to Kalama—17 miles

Saturday, February 11th:    From Kalama to Longview—13 miles

Sunday, February 12th:      From Longview to Vader—17 miles

Monday, February 13th:      From Vader to Napavine—18 miles

Tuesday, February 14th:     From Napavine to Tenino—18miles

Wednesday, February 15th: From Tenino to Olympia—17 miles

Events:  At the end of each day, march organizers will seek to organize an event in the community in which marchers have arrived. Potential events include town halls and community service projects. Information about these events will be made available at a later date.

Sponsors: A Coalition of Faith Communities in Southwest Washington along with Equal Rights Washington, the Community of Welcoming Congregations, and the Religious Coalition for Equality.

THIS WEEK:

Rep. Hasegawa’s HB 1320, Washington State Investment Trust (WIT), aims to increase access to capital for small businesses, promote job growth, support student loans, infrastructure and economic development. It is modeled after the Bank of North Dakota, which has been in business since 1919 and provides student loans as well as lending, treasury, and banking services.
The forum is sponsored by: The Washington Public Bank Coalition; Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church, Social Justice Committee; Eastside Fellowship of Reconciliation; and the Washington State Progressive Caucus.

The forum supports WA UU Voices’ legislative priority of economic reform.

Find more information about public banking at: 
www.wapublicbankproject.org
www.publicbankinginstitute.org
www.justsustainableeconomy.org
Or contact Rep. Bob Hasegawa, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 360 786-7862

GIVING LIFE THE SHAPE OF JUSTICE
 

UU Voices getting ready for the 2012 Session
 

The budget is the focus for WA UU Voices for Justice’s advocacy work during the 2012 regular session. Washington State faces an unprecedented budget shortfall, and we must preserve lifelines, in the form of critical services, for the most vulnerable people in our communities.

When the 2012 Washington State Legislature convenes Monday, January 9, at noon, legislators face difficult decisions about how to increase revenue and to reduce services.  At risk are the Basic Health Plan, in-home care for the elderly and disabled, services for children, and programs that ensure protection of our environment and quality of life for all Washington citizens.

Washington State UU Voices for Justice, more than ever, needs to bring our justice advocacy presence to Olympia. Your attendance at legislative advocacy days and your phone calls and letters, lets our legislators know we support a moral budget funded by increased revenue needed to maintain the quality of our state’s residents and our environment.

Find the information you need at WA UU Voices’ website

In WA UU Voices for Justice’s weekly newsletters during the legislative session, you will find updates on proposed legislation and events in Olympia, especially around our 2012 Legislative Priorities:

• Raise revenue
• Protect services for low-income persons
• Economic reform
• Restore the democratic process

At www.uuvoiceswa.org, go to the Resources tab, where you will find information on these priorities, and helpful ideas for ways to advocate with your legislators.

GET INVOLVED!

Interest groups have formed around each WA UU Voices legislative priority. If you would like to be involved in learning more about how you can act for justice around one or more of these issues, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

UPCOMING EVENTS

ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES COALITION LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP

When: Saturday, January 7th, 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Where: University of Washington, Kane Hall 120
Cost: $20 with lunch, $10 without lunch, and $10 for students with lunch
Register: http://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=1608&;EID=11028

Here’s your opportunity to be involved as the state’s leading conservation groups prepare for the upcoming legislative session. You’ll hear from legislators, environmental lobbyists, and others regarding the community's Environmental Priorities. Break-out sessions include how to use social media to get your voice heard and be your own citizen lobbyist, and Activism 2.0, for folks who are ready to take their activism to the next level to help build the environmental movement.

WA UU Voices actively supports this year’s Environmental Priorities, including Toxic-Free Kid’s products.

Monday, January 16 POVERTY ACTION DAY: MLK DAY SUMMIT AND RALLY
The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event includes morning presentations and workshops, followed by a noon march to the steps of the capitol and visits to legislators.

Friday, January 20 HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS ADVOCACY DAY
Plan now to spend the day in Olympia speaking out for homelessness prevention programs and affordable housing.

Wednesday, January 25 ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY DAY
Workshops, talks by elected officials and environmental advocates, advocacy training, and appointments with legislators are part of this day-long event. Details will be in an upcoming WA UU Voices’ newsletter.

A calendar of advocacy days where WA UU Voices will have an active presence is at:  www.uuvoiceswa.org Click on Upcoming Events.

Wednesday, January 25 THE REVEREND JOHN BUEHRENS AT EAST SHORE  

"On Being a More Effective Justice-Seeking People"
When: 7pm
Where: East Shore Unitarian Church, 12700 SE 32 St., Bellevue, WA 98005. 

John Buehrens served as President of the Unitarian Universalist Association from 1993 to 2001.  He is the co-author, with Rebecca Parker, of A House for Hope: The Promise of Progressive  Religion in the 21st Century, and Our Chosen Faith with Forrest Church, and author of Universalists and Unitarians in America, A People's History. He will be giving a version of a lecture delivered in Boston as part of an ongoing series on the future of Unitarian Universalism.
He takes as his starting point the ancient words of the prophet Micah, "What is required of you by God except to seek justice, practice kindness, and walk humbly?"

Jan. 4th, 2012

Gov. Gregoire announces historic legislation for

marriage equality in Washington state

Standing before supporters of marriage equality, Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced she will introduce historic legislation that if passed, would allow same-sex marriages in Washington state. The press release states:

“It’s time, it’s the right thing to do, and I will introduce a bill to do it,” Gregoire said. “I say that as a wife, a mother, a student of the law, and above all as a Washingtonian with a lifelong commitment to equality and freedom. Some say domestic partnerships are the same as marriage. That’s a version of the discriminatory ‘separate but equal’ argument.”

If legislation is approved, Washington would be the seventh state in the nation to legalize gay marriage, after Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.

“Our gay and lesbian families face the same hurdles as heterosexual families—making ends meet, choosing what school to send their kids to, finding someone to grow old with, standing in front of friends and family and making a lifetime commitment,” Gregoire said. “For all couples, a state marriage license is very important. It gives them the right to enter into a marriage contract in which their legal interests, and those of their children if any, are protected by well-established civil law.”

Gregoire’s announcement today follows years of advocating for equal rights for gays and lesbians. In 2006, she signed legislation banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in mployment, housing and other areas. In 2007, Substitute Senate Bill 5336 created the state omestic partnership registry. A year later, Gregoire signed House Bill 3104 which added additional rights and responsibilities relating to issues such as dissolutions, community property, estate planning, taxes, court process, conflicts of interest for public officials and guardianships. Legislation signed in 2009 requires state agencies to ensure that all privileges, immunities, rights, benefits, or responsibilities granted to married individuals are granted to an individual who is or was in a state registered domestic partnership.

“Throughout our history, we have fought discrimination,” Gregoire said. “We have joined together to recognize equality for racial minorities, women, people with disabilities, immigrants. Please join today to support equality again in our great state. It is the right thing to do and it is time.”