On October 21, 1987, during a special meeting of our congregation, we formally adopted a Statement of Openness, Inclusion, and Affirmation for Gay and Lesbian persons. With this vote, we made a bold declaration to be an Open and Affirming congregation within the United Church of Christ. By doing so, we became the first church in the Rocky Mountain Conference and the 16th church nationwide to make this important commitment.
In 1992, when Colorado voters passed Amendment 2, a state constitutional amendment that prohibited state and local governments from extending protections based on sexual orientation, our congregation, alongside three other UCC churches in Colorado, took a stand to overturn it. By 1996, the case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, where a member of our congregation served as the lead attorney. The Court ruled to overturn the amendment, making it illegal to discriminate against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation. This landmark ruling was a significant victory for LGBTQ rights in the United States.
In 1997, our Board of Spiritual Life took our Open and Affirming Covenant a step further by affirming the relationships of gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals and endorsing the right of same-sex couples to marry. We recognized their desire to celebrate their covenant commitment through the exchange of promises before God. In 1998, this endorsement was expanded to include transgender individuals. Read our Open and Affirming Covenant.
Since 1987, more than 1,400 congregations in the United Church of Christ have joined us in becoming Open and Affirming. Today, equal marriage is the law of the land.
Every October, we celebrate the anniversary of becoming an Open and Affirming congregation, in addition to observing Pride Month in June and participating in Boulder’s Pridefest. At Pridefest, we staff a booth in a prime location in Central Park, where we give away rainbow popsicles and dance.
LGBTQ+ and Allies meet once a month as a support group to plan activities and engage the congregation with mission partners, including RISE Against Suicide and Rocky Mountain Equality. RISE Against Suicide is dedicated to supporting mental health for LGBTQ+ youth, while Rocky Mountain Equality provides advocacy, education, cultural events, and services to ensure that LGBTQ+ people, families, and communities thrive in the Boulder area.
Throughout the year, the group organizes and takes part in a variety of fun activities. Most recently, our youth created their own LGBTQ+ group called ‘Skittles,’ providing a space for mutual support and enjoyment.