NoVA LUUP: The Northern Virginia Legislative
Unitarian Universalist Priorities Network
























A B O U T the NoVA LUUP

     Standing on the side of Love and Justice, founded on     
    the UU Seven Principles, the Northern Virginia Legislative
    Unitarian Universalist Priorities Network, (NoVA LUUP),
    adds a progressive faith-based voice to the political debate
    in Virginia.

      Specifically, we address LGBT and Reproductive Rights;
    areas that other Virginia faith-based groups don’t, and join
    in coalition with like-minded advocacy groups when our
    efforts can help increase social and economic justice in our
    state.

      We are just one of the dozen or more Unitarian
    Universalist advocacy networks that have developed, from
    California, (the very first, naturally), to Massachusetts to
    Florida. Visit the Unitarian Universalist “Statewide Advocacy
    Networks” online to learn more about our faith and work to
    increase social justice in the United States.

      In 2009, NoVA LUUP partnered with Virginia Interfaith
    Center on economic justice issues, with Equality Virginia on
    LGBT Workplace Protection, and with NARAL-Virginia on
    Reproductive Rights. We also watched for bills that related
    to the top three issues revealed in our Fall 2008 Issues
    Survey: Affordable Housing, Green Energy, and Health Care.

      We provided significant logistical support to the Falls
    Church Healthcare Center in planning and staging its Tiller
    Garden Dedication on what would have been Dr. George
    Tiller's 68th birthday on Sat. Aug. 8, 2009.

      Given our proximity to the Nation’s Capitol, we also aspire
    to join the UUA's Washington Office of Advocacy in times
    when we can make a difference on national issues.

     We hold annual legislative previews, provide talking points
    and background briefing papers on the issues, send action
    alerts when calls and letters are needed, maintain an
    information-packed web site, and speak directly with our
    state legislators. We also work closely with other like-minded
    groups, and will look for opportunities to build coalitions
    when that will help advance our social justice goals.  

      Our membership is drawn from the nine Northern Virginia
    UU congregations, all in the Joseph Priestley District, but we
    only began to offer a membership in Sept. 2009.

     NoVA LUUP's Board of Directors has members from six of
    those congregations and seeks representation from the
    other three: Loudoun, Sterling and Fairfax.