LGBT Advocacy

As a progressive faith community, FCCA has been involved with affirming and advocating for Marriage Equality for same-gender couples and for LGBT Diversity and Anti-Bullying curriculum in Alameda’s public schools. Beginning in 2010 when California made Harvey Milk Day a state holiday, FCCA has been one of the co-sponsors Alameda’s Harvey Milk Day Celebration held in one of Alameda’s public school sites. Our public stands on issues of inclusion and acceptance is a natural extension of our Sunday morning welcome to all people no matter who they are or where they are on life’s journey.

In 1987, we became the 15th UCC church in the nation to declare itself “Open and Affirming” to LGBT people. Our anti-discrimination policy states:

“We do not discriminate against any person, group or organization in hiring, promotion, membership, appointment, use of facility, provison of service or funding on the basis of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, faith, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, or physical disability.”

In 2006, in response to the UCC’s ground-breaking affirmation of Marriage Equality, we adopted our own statement in support of Marriage Equality for All:

“This congregation believes that every couple should have the same legal rights. We, as a Christian community, believe that denying civil rights is not consistent with Christian principles. Therefore, we support local, state and national legislation that grants equal marriage rights to all couples regardless of gender. Furthermore, we will work against legislation, including constitutional amendments, which denies civil marriage rights to couples based on gender.”