The first time I went to my only nearby UU congregation, I was treated to a sermon centering on the idea that As women, we are natural mothers, even if we don't have children of our own. I'm an infertile woman in my 30s, I've had a hysterectomy, I don't have or want my own children, I'm not a mother, I will not be a mother in the future. Yet throughout the sermon I was informed that all women are naturally maternal, blah blah blah. It really sounded no different than what my conservative Christian family used to tell me when I still talked to them.

I didn't want to stay for coffee hour. When I tried to leave, two long-time members kept trying to corner me into an unwanted conversation and literally stood in front of the door. Only when I asked them "Why are you blocking the door?" did they sheepishly move out of the way.

Because I'm apparently quite stupid, I went back again last Sunday. This week's sermon was about something related to racial inclusivity. The congregation is almost entirely White, which is ironic given their lip-service to "diversity", but I don't find it inherently problematic to be in a heavily-White crowd. I'm Indian American and there was a Black couple there as well, but literally everyone else was White. Oh well. The problems began during coffee hour when I was repeatedly questioned about my life experiences as an Indian American. I'm sure they thought they were "questioning their beliefs" or whatever, but in reality they were just projecting a bunch of false assumptions onto me and then making baseless accusations. I was honestly disgusted and I left after about 25 minutes.

I won't be returning again. This is the only UU congregation within an hour of my home. If this is how they treat their guests, I don't want to find out how they treat me when they feel comfortable.