Social Justice
Gay Pride Parade
We march in the annual Rochester Gay Pride Parade every year. Rochester is one of the largest LGBT communities in New York State and the Rochester Gay Pride/Cultural Festival is the 2nd largest LGBT event in New York State. This event has grown to more than 10,000 spectators supporting and cheering the floats and 1,000 marchers every year.
GUUSTO – Outreach/Social Justice
GUUSTO stands for Genesee Unitarian Universalist Societies Together. GUUSTO is a St. Lawrence District-supported effort to join us with the three other Unitarian Universalist congregations in this area (Rochester, Canandaigua and Albion) to accomplish more than we could separately.
Interfaith Impact
We participate in Interfaith Impact, an interfaith consortium that takes on community problems.
Empire State Pride Agenda
Empire State Pride Agenda is a statewide, bi-partisan civil rights and advocacy organization dedicated to winning equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) New Yorkers and their families. Check their website to see if your elected officials have been endorsed by Pride Agenda.
Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN)
Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN) is a non-profit organization of faith communities assisting homeless families in achieving sustainable independence. This is done by supporting them with resources of food, shelter, personalized case management, and a broad network of caring volunteers. Every fifteen weeks, a faith community hosts RAIHN guests in their place of worship for one week.
Our RAIHN Host Weeks and training sessions are announced through our newsletters and wekly Announcements.
Food Cupboard
On the second Sunday of each month, we have a special in-gathering of donations of toiletries, paper goods, and non-perishable food items to benefit the Community Food Cupboard on Nester Street.
Social Justice Plate Collection
On the third Sunday of each month our Sunday morning plate collection is donated to an organization involved in social justice work. Most recipient organizations are local. Our members and friends are encouraged to submit the names of worthy organizations. A committee reviews the organizations and selects a recipient. Some past recipients are Metro Justice, Hillside Community Center, Heifer Project International and the Rochester City School District.
Standing on the Side of Love
Standing on the Side of Love is a public advocacy campaign that seeks to harness love’s power to stop oppression. No one should be dehumanized through acts of exclusion, oppression, or violence because of their identities. In public debates over immigration, LGBT rights, and more, religious people stand on the side of love and call for respect, inclusion, and compassion. The Standing on the Side of Love campaign elevates compassionate religious voices to influence public attitudes and public policy.
