June 5, 2008

Tomorrow the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA) will take their proposal for gender identity non-discrimination to the annual Walmart shareholder meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Proposal #4 calls for Walmart to add gender identity protections to their employment non-discrimination policy, which already includes sexual orientation.

Speaking on behalf of the UUA will be Rev. Jonalu Johnstone. In addition to serving as Program Minister at the First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City, Johnstone is also president of Interweave Continental, the UUA's network of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender members and allies. Many Unitarian Universalist (UU) ministers and congregations around the country currently minister to openly transgender people, and last year the UUA's annual General Assembly passed an official resolution in support of transgender people.

The resolution reads, in part, "Walmart will enhance its competitive edge by joining the growing ranks of companies guaranteeing equal opportunity for all employees." The full text of the resolution can be read online.

The UUA filed a similar gender identity non-discrimination resolution last month with Verizon. It was a first-time filing, and the vote of 16.83% far exceeded the 3% needed to bring the resolution back next year. UUA Treasurer Tim Brennan was happy with the vote. "For a first-time filing, this vote is tremendously encouraging. Our goal was to educate board members and shareholders and begin an important conversation about one of the last groups not currently protected by federal civil rights laws. We're very pleased with this strong start, and we'll be back next year."

For more information about the UUA's shareholder advocacy work, please see our Socially Responsible Investing site, which includes details about current campaigns in five advocacy areas: Diversity, Climate Change, Executive Compensation, Separate CEO and Board, and Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Non-Discrimination.

The Unitarian Universalist Association is a faith community of more than 1000 self-governing congregations that bring to the world a vision of religious freedom, tolerance and social justice. For more information on the UUA, including recent press releases and news articles, please visit our online pressroom.

Unitarian Universalist Association