Lesbian minister of Nantucket church cancels its upcoming July 4 America 250 celebrations to protest their 'whiteness'

A lesbian minister in a ritzy Massachusetts enclave has canceled her church's upcoming July 4 celebrations in protest of her congregation's 'whiteness.'

Reverend Erin Splaine announced on Thursday that the yearly gathering at the Second Congregational Meeting House Society, Unitarian Universalist in Nantucket has been axed this year due to 'the recent gutting of the 1965 Voting Rights Act by the Supreme Court,' she wrote in a letter to the Nantucket Current. 

The married minister, 65, was referring to the recent Supreme Court decision in Louisiana that handed Republicans the power to redraw the congressional map and dismantle a majority-black district before the November midterms. 

The church's festivities, which include the reading of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, were ditched because, according to Splaine, her congregation needs 'to better understand our own whiteness and how we can be part of changing an inherently unfair system which has been in place for 250 years,' she wrote.

'Yet, we also know that for those of us who are white the experience of the Rights and Privileges conferred by the Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, and the Constitution of the United States have, for centuries, been tragically, often violently, and unequally applied to fellow citizens who are not white. 

'A celebration without context and the centering of the fullness of our American Story only perpetuates the harm, injustice, and anti-democratic process,' the religious leader said. 

She added: 'We are working as a congregation and as members of this community to expand our knowledge - to learn the entirety of our American history. We invite anyone who would like to join us in this journey to please do so.' 

In place of the celebrations, the minister said the doors of the church will be open on July 4 for two hours 'should anyone want to talk or engage further.'

She further discouraged people from engaging with her on social media because it is not the place for 'tender, important conversations', and told them to schedule an appointment to talk with her about the decision, Splaine stated. 

She signed the letter: 'With hope for a better America.' 

Her decision left many online users furious, including Libs of TikTok, a far-right account on X. 

'Wtf. Erin Splaine, the "Reverend" of the woke Unitarian Universalist Church in Nantucket, just canceled July 4th celebrations because White people are "privileged" and honoring American history "perpetuates the harm, injustice, and anti-democratic process." She then forbids anyone from contacting her on social media about her decision,' the account posted.

'How very Christian of her,' a user sarcastically wrote under the post. 

Another commented: 'She's throwing a tantrum, and her congregation gets to take it and not ask any questions.'

Someone else labeled Splaine a 'wackadoodle.'

Splaine is married to her wife Michelle Axelson, a 48-year-old who owns a feminist and lesbian-run book and gift shop in Provincetown called Womencrafts. 

According to the business's Facebook page, Axelson is heavily involved in the community and is an activist for the LGBTQ+ population. 

She was seen posing for a picture with former President Joe Biden in November 2025. 

Axelson also took a photo with US Senator Elizabeth Warren while she campaigned for Senate in 2024. 

Both Splaine and her wife's Facebook pages are filled with anti-Trump and pro-liberal content.  

The Daily Mail has contacted Splaine for comment.