Skinner House Joins the UUA’s Attack on Viewpoint Diversity
The recent illiberal trends in the current Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) have been well-documented. This includes in my past essays, such as here and here, and by other authors such as here, here, and here. A traditionally liberal church that believed in freedom of belief and expression, the worth and dignity of everyone, and democratic processes, the UUA has been organizationally captured by activists trying to transform Unitarian Universalism into an authoritarian and dogmatic social justice activism organization that does not tolerate viewpoint diversity.
The UUA publishing imprint Skinner House, in conjunction with the UU disability justice group EqUUal Access, is going to publish an anthology of disabled UUs' “lived experiences” in UU. The call was for “the lived experience of disability in congregations. We are seeking authors, named or anonymous, who would be willing to share their authentic story . . . (W)e are looking for stories in which authors bring their whole selves.”
Not only am I type 1 bipolar and autistic, but I'm an expert in neurodiversity and mental disorders and their relationships to beliefs, knowledge, and behavior. I’m a member of the American Philosophical Association’s disabilities division and wrote a standard peer-reviewed university textbook on neurodiversity. I am also a mental disabilities rights activist and was ordained in interfaith.
The anthology editors wrote me that they would not only not include a chapter by me but not even consider a proposal because of my criticism of the UUA and the UUA's particular "anti-oppression" methodology. The letter in part said: "(We) are concerned that publishing a contribution from someone who is outspokenly opposed to many of the positions of our UU disability movement . . . " The letter also points to my "outspoken" criticism of "the current anti-oppression lens that is a UUA focus."
The editors objected to my essays “Intellectual Freedoms Support Diversity: A neurodiversity perspective” and “How to Destroy a Liberal Church.”
This demonstrates that, while the current UUA advertises that they "center the voices of minorities," they center only the voices of minorities who agree with their narrow political and ideological views. This is the antithesis of their stated goals of diversity. Educator Irshad Manji correctly said that “honest diversity” requires not just diversity of skin colors, sexes, nationalities and religions, but “different points of view.” Manji says about herself, “Just because I’m Muslim, just because I’m gay, doesn’t mean I think any particular way.”
Also note that EqUUal Access’ motto is “Including ALL, changing minds.” The capitalization of ALL is theirs.
The following is a response letter I wrote :
"(Editors),
I've thought about this more. My essay would have been about someone with mental disorders in a UU congregation, and, in part, would have been how people with disabilities have a diversity of views, perspectives and experiences. It would not have included anything controversial about the UUA. I know how to tailor my writing to the particular scope, purpose and audience of a publication.
I think you are doing a great disservice, if not even harm, to disabled people by not having other perspectives in the book. Such expectation of narrow ideological and political conformity from the contributors will be a great disservice to and miseducation of the readers. It misrepresents and falsely stereotypes the disabled. I hope you learn and grow, and really work to be a service to the disabled and their diversity. Representing diversity, the disabled and other minority communities is and should be big tent and about really listening to all the members, not just the one’s who agree with you.
Do you understand what neurodiversity and supporting neurodiversity mean? Neurodiversity is necessarily about viewpoint diversity.
You rejected my proposal before reading it or even knowing what it would be about. That speaks for itself.
David"
This comes after it was reported that Skinner House demanded the editors of an upcoming anthology about women in Unitarian Universalism history remove a chapter on retired UU minister, second-wave feminist and social justice activist Rev. Dr. Kate Rohde. Rohde had criticized the current UUA and its particular “anti-oppression” methodology. It was reported that, when Skinner House demanded that even more women be removed from the anthology, the editors decided to look for another publisher.
For the story of the UUA’s mistreatment of Rohde and others, along with the UUA’s turn to fanaticism, listen to the following podcast episode: