Call Number:

Phy.725

Repository:

Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Extent:

0.5 linear ft. (1 box)

Language:

English

Date:

1975-1987 (inclusive)

Creator:

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Committee on Social Concerns

Abstract:

In 1972, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting appointed a Committee on Homosexuality under the Meeting for Social Concerns to work for the assurance of civil rights for homosexuals. In December of 1975, after the Meeting for Social Concerns was laid down and Yearly Meeting restructured, it was decided that there should be a subcommittee of the Family Relations Committee on homosexuality and a Committee for the Civil Rights of Homosexuals under the Testimonies/Concerns section of Yearly Meeting; the two groups met jointly. In 1987, the Committee on Civil Rights for Homosexuals decided to lay itself down; the Subcommittee on Homosexuality continued as part of the Family Relations Committee. Includes records of the Committee on Civil Rights for Homosexuals, 1975-1987.

In 1972, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting appointed a Committee on Homosexuality under the Meeting for Social Concerns to work for the assurance of civil rights for homosexual people. A year later, the Yearly Meeting went on record as opposing discrimination based on sexual orientation, viz. "We should all be aware that there is a great diversity in the relationships that people develop with on another. Although we neither approve or disapprove of homosexuality, the same standards under the law whach are applied to heterosexual activities should also be applied to homosexual activities." In December of 1975, after the Meeting for Social Concerns was laid down and Yearly Meeting restructured, it was decided that there should be a subcommittee of the Family Relations Committee on homosexuality and a Committee for the Civil Rights of Homosexuals under the Testimonies/Concerns section of Yearly Meeting; the two groups met jointly. In 1987, the PYM Committee on Civil Rights for Homosexuals decided to lay itself down; the Subcommittee on Homosexuality continued as part of the Family Relations Committee.

Records of the Committee on Civil Rights for Homosexuals, 1975-1987. Includes minutes, Clerk's correspondence, and miscellaneous records.