The UU Humanist Association is pleased to award Mandisa Thomas, founder of Black Nonbelievers, our “Person of the Year - A Celebration of Religious Humanism" award. Mandisa has been an inspiration both within and far beyond Unitarian Universalism. 

Mandisa will be the keynote speaker at our UU Humanists Annual Meeting, which will be held on Friday, June 22, 5-7pm at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown -- Andy Kirk Conference Room A/B

You can read more about Mandisa and the work of Black Nonbelievers here. Read more about Mandisa Thomas to Receive UU Humanist Person of the Year Award »

Dear UU Humanist Association members and friends:
 
As 2017 ends, we progressives are weary. The assaults on our values have been constant. The Trump Administration’s recent banning of words at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is telling. The words are: vulnerable, entitlement, diversity, transgender, fetus, evidence-based, science-based.
Read more about Year-End President's Letter »

Across the world, there are individuals who are in prison for so-called blasphemy, who face murder for their skepticism, and who have been threatened with assassination for questioning religious and political leaders.

In 2014, a popular blogger in the Maldives, Yameen Rasheed wrote, "For all my tax money that goes to pay their salaries, the only service I can get in return from Maldives Police is baton charges, random threats, harassment, and rude anonymous comments on my blog – and being prevented from voting in elections."

Yameen was murdered this past April.

Humanists in wealthy, democratic countries have an opportunity to do something to help our peers around the world who are facing death threats for open expression and liberal values. Read more about Fight Theocracy: Share the Plate »

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Bill Murry. You may read his obituary here. A few weeks ago, he was the recipient of our Lifetime Achievement Award for all that he has done for the UU Humanists and for Unitarian Universalism over the years. He was a personal mentor for so many of us on the UUHA board and much beloved. We will miss you greatly, Bill. Read more about William R. Murry, In Memorium »

We are very pleased to congratulate the Reverend Susan Frederick-Gray who was elected president of the Unitarian Universalist Association at General Assembly in New Orleans, LA. We look forward to your presidency and to working together to bring Unitarian Universalism to ever increasing heights of inclusion and impact. Read more about Congratulations to Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, 9th President of the UUA »

Dear Unitarian Universalist Humanists:

Your UU Humanist Association has been working to promote humanist values in the UUA. Working with UUA President Peter Morales and UUA Chief Operating Officer Harlan Limpert, we have been pressuring the Boy Scouts of America to exhibit progressive values. In an abrupt change in direction, the BSA now accepts all those who identify as boys. Unfortunately, the BSA has not budged on their discriminatory policy toward non-theists. We will continuing working to change this policy. We have over 1600 signatures on our BSA petition! Read more about A Message from the President »

Oooh, fights. We either run from them, run toward them, or pretend they’re not there (haven’t we all just smiled while passing the sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving?). And many of we Unitarian Universalists have been thinking a lot about fights, since hearing the Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd’s sermon on “Fake Fights” at this year’s General Assembly.

As blogger (and fellow UU Humanist Association Board member) Adam Gonnerman noted in his great post about the sermon, some humanists have been nervous that Rev. Ladd was pointing to the ongoing humanist-theist conversation within Unitarian Universalism as one of those fake fights. Those folks are likely remembering Ladd’s mention of how we are “still fighting about who’s a humanist and who’s a theist--as though those two terms are mutually exclusive in the first place.” Read more about Fake Fights »

Last summer, there was terrible violence in South Carolina. 9 individuals, 9 black Americans, were shot dead by a deranged terrorist in their church. There was outcry. Preachers and leaders promised change - or, at least, held up the communities of concern that formed out of pain.

Now, a year later, across the country there are communities of concern that have gathered in response to pain. This time, 49 individuals, LGBT Americans, many Latino, were shot dead by a deranged terrorist in an LGBT Club. 49 murdered, 53 wounded. 

Just a few days ago, here in Oakland, a young girl was shot dead after leaving a funeral. 

What do we do in response to these murders? What does our movement, religious and secular, do in response?

Some people, when pain happens, need to be alone, or with one person. 

When I heard the news, I craved community. I wanted to be around others, I wanted to see and contribute and be with other people trying to do something- even if initially it was only a witness.  Read more about Not Just Mourners »