First Parish Brewster UU was the first church in the nation to be affirmed by the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (the UUA) as a “Welcoming Congregation,” completing a two-year program to examine homophobia and to become fully and joyfully welcoming of LGBTQ persons and affirming of LGBTQ relationships.

Our committee focuses on the current status of LGBTQ initiatives on the Cape and beyond, and we plan our programs to participate as appropriate.

For the past 20+ years, our largest and most significant project has been sponsoring and planning the annual GAYLA Ball each February, a joyful Cape-wide dinner dance for the LGBTQ community and our non-gay allies.  At each ball, we honor a person who has contributed to the LGBTQ community through leadership and advocacy.   The event has become such a popular fundraiser that each year we have been able to support worthy LGBTQ organizations, as well as allow a substantial contribution to FPBUU.  

Examples of ways our committee connects with members of FPBUU and the larger community include:

• educational programs with films and speakers on issues like same-sex marriage and coming out as a trans person
• organize demonstrations and vigils
• participate in Cape PRIDE events, Transgender Day of Remembrance event, the SAGE Table event for elder LGBTQ people, and PFLAG events
• gave a grant to establish a new LGBTQ Outreach program at the Orleans Senior Center
• supported the Freedom MA campaign to defeat Article 3 on the ballot, which would have taken away the civil rights of transgender people
• gave grants to GLAD, the Freedom to Marry Coalition, the Youth Outreach Hospitality Action Team, sponsored by the Nauset Interfaith Association, and CIGSYA House
• sponsored and led church services featuring LGBTQ love stories and coming out stories of members of our congregation

Our committee is partially supported by an annual bequest from the Cochran Memorial Trust Fund at the Cape Cod Foundation to support our work for the LGBTQ community.

If you are interested in learning more about the work of this committee and/or would like to be placed on our Gayla Ball mailing list, submit the contact form below.