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There are many people advocating for Unitarian Universalist principles with a variety of groups. Church members are encouraged to review this list periodically and visit websites of interest to learn more about the important work of these groups. If any church member wishes to add an advocacy organization to the list, please contact the Advocacy Coordinator at
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This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 1. Standing on the Side of Love www.standingonthesideoflove.org
Standing on the Side of Love is a public advocacy campaign that seeks to harness love’s power to stop oppression. It is sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association. All are welcome to join. This is a time of great hope and possibility, yet our communities are threatened by the increased prevalence of acts motivated by fear and hate. In public debates over immigration, LGBT rights, and more, religious people stand on the side of love and call for respect, inclusion, and compassion. No one should be dehumanized through acts of exclusion, oppression, or violence because of their identities.
The Standing on the Side of Love campaign elevates compassionate religious voices to influence public attitudes and public policy. Through community activism, social networking, and media outreach, people across the nation are equipped to counter fear and make love real in the world. For example our Adoption Task Force stands of the side of love as it advocates for fair adoption in Florida.
2. Coalition of Immokalee Workers www.ciw-online.org
The CIW is a community-based organization of mainly Latino, Mayan Indian and Haitian immigrants working in low-wage jobs throughout the state of Florida. Many of them are migrant workers in agriculture. They fight for, among other things: a fair wage, more respect from their bosses and the industries where they work, better and cheaper housing, stronger laws and stronger enforcement against those who would violate workers' rights, the right to organize on their jobs without fear of retaliation, and an end to involuntary servitude in the fields.
We have invited their representatives to speak at a service, and have planned Adult and Children’s RE programs with their workers. Congregation members have marched in their demonstrations for fair prices for tomatoes from Publix in 2009 and 2010 in Orlando and Lakeland. More demonstrations are expected in the future. Contact Dan Homblette for more information.
3. Equality Florida www.equalityflorida.org
Statewide, securing equality for Florida's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community. The leader in organized resistance to the removal of rights of gays and advocate for GLBT adoption. Contact Martha Harnit Hartgering for more information.
4. Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando PPGO www.ppgo.org
Helping men and women with reproductive health issues. Two local offices.
Supported by The Alliance.
5. Amnesty International, USA http://www.amnestyusa.org
Dedicated to international human rights. Local Chapter 519 meets at Marks Street Center, 99 E. Marks St. 6 pm, First Monday of each month. Barbara Logan and Joe DuRocher are members.
6. Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty www.fadp.org
Statewide activities seek to abolish the death penalty, consistent with six UUA Resolutions.
7. School of the Americas [SOA] Watch www.soaw.org
U.S. Army SOA at Ft. Benning, GA trains Latin American security personnel in combat and counter-insurgency. Thousands of such soldiers have abused human rights in their home countries, using murder, torture and extortion to oppose land reform, labor rights and liberal causes. SOAW keeps watch and works to abolish this "school of assassins".
8. CodePink, Women for Peace www.codepink4peace.org
Emerged out of a desperate desire of a group of American women to stop the Bush invasion of Iraq. Has matured into a national social justice movement to "wage peace.” Member Diedra Lynch has all the information.
9. Veterans for Peace www.veteransforpeace.org
Membership is available to any person who has served in the Armed Forces of the U.S. National and local chapters work for the agenda of peace, oppose preemptive war, torture and the neglect of returning veterans.
10. ACLU, the American Civil Liberties Union www.aclufl.org
Acting locally and nationally for the protection of civil rights and liberties. Sometimes described as the "Unitarians' Law Firm"
11. Waterkeeper Alliance www.waterkeeper.org
The national coalition for protection of our rivers, bays, estuaries, lakes, sounds and other natural waters. Founded by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Local action by St. Johns Riverkeeper.
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