Interweave Continental talk:Community Portal
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Q: I'm curious about the whole UUA Independent Affiliate status thing. I'm just wondering what effect it will have?
A: Interweave Continental has re-applied for UUA Independent Affiliate status. The Interweave Continental Board has compiled some talking points and encourages you to communicate your opinions on this issue to your representatives on the UUA Board of Trustees.
AlanHamilton updated 2008 June 16
Queer
Q: Recently, I was very surprised to see the term "queer" used in an advertisement for Interweave in UU World.I thought this was a pejorative term for homosexuals. Apparently, there is a new movement to change the derogatory meaning associated with the word. Could you enlighten me about this?
A: During the 20th century, the adjective <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer">"queer"</a> narrowed from "strange" or "unusual" to libertine sexual behavior and from there to specifically same-sex sexual behavior. When "queer" became a popular taunt among youth, younger children started using the word with to mean "bad", often long before learning that it referred to same-sex sexual behavior. For an entire generation, "queer" became one of the most pejorative terms in US usage.
As "queer" became more pejorative, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay">"gay"</a> was used as a euphemism for same-sex sexual behavior. As "gay" grew to mean specifically "gay men", many same-sex-oriented women used "lesbian" for themselves. By the late 1970s, "gay" morphed as "queer" had, becoming a taunt among youth, then the epithet of choice among children, usually before they learned that it also meant same-sex behavior. So for another entire generation, "gay" became one of the most pejorative terms in US usage. More recently, "gay" among children and youth has also come to be used less pejoratively, meaning anything from "discounted" or "marginally negative" through "maximally pejorative".
Youth, young adults, and activists who grew up with "gay" as a maximally pejorative term cast about for a term that was less loaded for them, and reclaimed "queer". Partly in reaction to the separation of bisexual, gay [men], lesbian, and transgender commuities, "queer" became a broad term for (1) the full range of diversity of bisexual, gay, and lesbian people; (2) BGL and transgender people; (2) anyone outside of mainstream heteronormative culture, including heterosexuals who do BDSM and polyamory. In 1990, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_Nation">"Queer Nation"</a> was formed to combat oppression based on same-gender sexual behavior. Its slogans included, "We're here. We're queer. Get used to it."
Because of the course of development of "queer" and "gay" over the 20th century, there is currently something of a generational difference between (1) older people who perceive "queer" as a maximal pejorative and perceive "gay" as a supportive, nurturing term; and (2) younger people who perceive "gay" as a maximal pejorative and "queer" as a broad, supportive, nurturing term.
As people for whom "queer" is the term of choice for same-sex sexual behavior have become young adults and taken on more leadership in Interweave Continental, these words were increasingly discussed. The 2004 Retreat of the Interweave Continental Board proposed changes to the organization's Mission/Vision statement, including use of the word "queer". As part of the organization's bylaws, changes to the Mission/Vision statement require approval at two consecutive Membership Meetings. At Convo 2005, the Interweave Continental Membership Meeting had a long discussion of the issue and ultimately approved it. The Convo 2006 Membership Meeting required almost no discussion before approving it.
On the other hand, many people consider "queer" offensive at any time. Other people consider it offensive when used by anyone who identifies as heterosexual. Using "queer" can be interpreted as offensive in almost any situation, depending on the level of confidence and trust that each listener has in the speaker. Unless you are very familiar with its use among the people with whom you are talking, and especially if you identify as heterosexual, it is prudent to use "queer" sparingly or not at all.
The current Mission/Vision statement is: "Interweave Continental is a membership organization actively working toward ending oppression based on sexual orientation and gender identity, recognizing that we will not be free until all oppression is a thing of the past. We are an affiliate organization of the Unitarian Universalist Association and UU principles guide our work. We value and affirm the lives and experience of Queer people of faith, regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, income level, and ability. By providing and supporting leadership and working in collaboration with other organizations of similar vision, we strive to connect and nurture all Queer individuals, communities, and groups and their allies."
<opinion>
Because UUA Independent Affiliate status is conferred by the UUA Board of Trustees and is not under the control of Interweave Continental, the second sentence will probably be changed to:
"We are a Unitarian Universalist organization and UU principles guide our work."
</opinion>
AlanHamilton 2008 June 16; updated 2008 June 29
Whereabouts of Results of UU World Readers' Survey
Q: In the current issue of UU World (Vol 22, #2) Richard Higgins alludes to a 2004 poll of its subscribers. Among other issues, this poll apparently addressed the question of our former church affiliations. The reference occurs in Higgins' article about the the study recently sponsored by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (beginning on p. 38).
My copies of UU World for 2004 and 2005 have been scoured in hopes of locating the findings of the UUW readers' survey. All to no avail. Even searched the articles and news stories at the website for uuworld.org. Again, zilch. Perhaps the date given for the poll is an error or misprint. Can any of you help clear this up?
Assuming that the findings were made public, might you know the title of this UUW readers' survey? With it in hand, presumably I'd have better luck tracking it down. Naturally if you know where the UUW survey results might be read either in print or electronic media, that would be even more desirable. Incidentally, if you've not had an opportunity to look over the data collected in the Pew research, it's viewable online, beginning at http://religions.pewforum.org/ Well worth the attention of anyone interested in the make-up and functioning of religion in the U.S.
Thanks, Dan
A: On the web page of article "Three in a thousand" (http://www.uuworld.org/ideas/articles/108007.shtml), the column "RELATED RESOURCES" has links to information about several articles about surveys. "Demographic Contrasts" (http://www.uuworld.org/ideas/articles/asset_upload_file254_108007.pdf) says at the bottom:
"UU World survey of 417 randomly selected readers, conducted by Lewis & Clark Research, November 2004–January 2005. UU World subscriptions are provided to all members of UUA congregations."
For additional information, I suggest that you write to world@uua.org (e-mail), which I found on the "Contact us" page at the bottom of UUWorld.org page. If that is not productive, post a followup here and we will try to get more information for you.
--AlanHamilton
