[UUPoly-L] Hello from General Assembly

[Moonstorm Erosong <mnstrm@erosong.net>]

So here we are in Salt Lake City at the Unitarian Universalist
Association General Assembly, where a few thousand UUs from all over
the world spend 4+ days steeping themselves in the business and
philosophical life of the denomination.  There is an extensive
schedule of workshops, lectures, worship services, award ceremonies,
and parties.  Speakers this year include David Korten, Rianne Eisler,
and Melissa Harris-Lacewell, and subject cover everything from
congregational management to LGBTQIA issues to economic and racial
justice, to ecology--but nothing this year on polyamory.

There's a handful of UUPA members and trustees here for GA, and we
have--as we have had for several years now--a display booth in the
exhibit hall right next to Interweave, UUs for Justice in the Middle
East, and the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and
Healing.  I think that maintaining a visible presence at GA is one of
the most important things that UUPA does these days, and certainly one
of the most fun.

I've spent most of the last 4 days sitting in the UUPA booth chatting
with passersby, and being impressed with the number of people who do
stop to chat with us.  I've also been impressed this year with how
little negative reaction we're getting.  People talk about being poly
themselves, or knowing poly people in their congregations, and in a
few cases about having a minister or Director of Religious Education
who is openly poly.  There are still a significant number of people
who have no clue what polyamory is, but after a quick explanation most
of them say something like, "I can't imagine doing something like
that, but I'm glad you were here to educate me about it."

I asked one lady if she'd heard of polyamory, and she said, "Oh, yes,
I know about it--I'm a minister."  Another minister talked to me for a
fairly long time, asking questions about how to perform joining
ceremonies for multipartner families, and what polys think about the
idea of getting married.

My sense from being here over the past few years is that awareness of
polyamory is indeed spreading within the UUA, and I'm proud to have
been part of that process.  I heartily recommend all UU polys to avail
themselves of the experience of GA when they get a chance.  Come sit
in the UUPA booth and chat with other UUs about your experience of
being poly and UU.  Become part of this very gratifying process.

Today is the next to the last day of GA.  I'll be in the booth again
this afternoon, and then tomorrow morning is our UUPA annual
membership meeting.  I'm really hoping there are enough members here
and by conference call to give us a quorum.

Blessings,

'Storm

Harlan White, UUPA President.