We’re Coming Out with Faith for Pride 2022!
Here at Rainbow Faith and Freedom we are beyond excited to be participating in Pride Toronto for the first time. Pride is celebrated across our nation and around the world. It originally began in New York City after police raided a local gay bar leading to the infamous Stonewall Riots in 1969. Toronto Pride was officially founded in 1981 in response to “Operation Soap”, a brutal Toronto police raid of numerous bathhouses where hundreds of men were publicly humiliated. Today, Pride Toronto aims to support the 2SLGBTQ+ community by providing a space where those of all gender and sexual orientations can be seen, accepted, and embraced for the beauty they bring to our city.
We are thrilled to join forces with Pride Toronto to help bring our message of reducing and eliminating religious-based homophobia and transphobia to a wider audience. We feel it is important for us to be an active and visible part of our community to effectively combat this homophobia and transphobia. Faith is an important part of many 2SLGBTQ+ people’s lives. We are working hard to help all 2SLGBTQ+ folks feel free to be who they are within their religious communities and openly love who they love. We believe that no matter what faith you subscribe to (even if that is no faith at all), you are deserving of a safer space in which to interact with your community and practice what you believe in. All people are equal under their Creator.
If you are interested in helping us on our mission of reducing religious based homophobia and transphobia at Pride, we have lots of volunteer spaces open! Whether you’ve been involved with us before or are looking to try something new, you are always welcome at Rainbow Faith and Freedom. We would love to have you march with us at the Pride Parade on June 26th or help us at our Pride Festival booth. At our booth we will be informing people about RFF’s mission, recruiting volunteers and sign-ups for our email list, as well as accepting donations. Visit our volunteer page at https://rainbowfaithandfreedom.org/volunteer-1 to sign-up and learn more.
If you would like to support our efforts at Pride monetarily you can find our fundraiser at https://rff.salsalabs.org/comingoutwithfaith/index.html. Your contribution will help us support both religious institutions who want to become more welcoming to the 2SLGBTQ+ community and to 2SLGBTQ+ individuals looking for religious belonging. Any donation over $20 is tax-deductible.
After two years of virtual Pride events we hope to see you in-person at Pride Toronto this year. Whether it’s volunteering with us at our booth, marching alongside us in the parade or coming out to cheer in the crowds, thank you for continuously being a part of the RFF community.
Panel: Dreaming the (Im)possible: Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in Taiwan
Brent attended a panel discussion at the 519 “Dreaming the (Im)possible: Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in Taiwan”. Jennifer Lu, one of the leaders of successful campaign for marriage equality in Taiwan was present (Taiwan became the first Asian country to recognize same sex weddings). The panel provided great perspective on the LGBTI situation in Asian countries. That evening, Brent joined City Councillor Kristyn Wong Tam , MPP Jill Andrews, and other members of the Dignity Network at a dinner honoring Jennifer. Jennifer was very interested in what RFF is doing.
Brent attended a panel discussion at the 519 “Dreaming the (Im)possible: Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in Taiwan”. Jennifer Lu, one of the leaders of successful campaign for marriage equality in Taiwan was present (Taiwan became the first Asian country to recognize same sex weddings). The panel provided great perspective on the LGBTI situation in Asian countries. That evening, Brent joined City Councillor Kristyn Wong Tam , MPP Jill Andrews, and other members of the Dignity Network at a dinner honoring Jennifer. Jennifer was very interested in what RFF is doing.
Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes and Jennifer Lu
Meeting with Dignity Network Steering Committee
Dignity Network (DN) is a network of 48 organizations across Canada that are involved in international LGBTI work. Doug Kerr is the Founder. Because of the work we'll be doing confronting religious based homophobia around the world, Rainbow Faith and Freedom (RFF) is involved with this organization. On November 6 & 7, 2019, the Steering Committee met in person for the first time to review our past work and plan for the year ahead, and in particular to further develop the structure of the organization.
Dignity Network Steering Committee
Dignity Network (DN) is a network of 48 organizations across Canada that are involved in international LGBTI work. Doug Kerr is the Founder. Because of the work we'll be doing confronting religious based homophobia around the world, Rainbow Faith and Freedom (RFF) is involved with this organization.
DN has an annual round table meeting for member organizations each year and is governed by a Steering Committee which meets monthly. RFF is a member organization and Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, Founder and Executive Director of RFF, serves on the Steering Committee. On November 6 & 7, 2019, the Steering Committee met in person for the first time (we usually have monthly meetings by phone or Zoom) to review our past work and plan for the year ahead, and in particular to further develop the structure of the organization. We met at Egale’s office - thanks to Egale for their hospitality and thanks to Doug for getting us to this stage. There’s also a smaller Executive committee that helps with the day-to-day operations.
DN has been crucial in helping RFF develop expertise, relationships and contacts for international work. As we raise funds, RFF needs to become a member with the Global Interfaith Network (GIN) and the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), 2 organizations that will be crucial for our future work.
We’d love it if you would make a monthly pledge or you could sponsor RFF’s involvement in either DN, GIN or ILGA.
Click the ‘Donate’ button at the top of the page if you want to support the work of RFF: www.rainbowfaithandfreedom.org
Government of Canada Issues Formal Apology for Treatment of LGBTQ2 Canadians
Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes attends historic apology ceremony in Ottawa as Govt of Canada apologizes for past treatment of LGBTQ2 people.
Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes attends historic apology ceremony in Ottawa as Govt of Canada apologizes for past treatment of LGBTQ2 people.
“It’s a wonderful day for the LGBTQ2 people of Canada, their friends, families and allies,” said Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes. “Finally, the wrongs of the past can be corrected, and we can begin to work on building a better chapter in our history.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a speech in the House of Commons as some in attendance wept with joy. “It is with shame and sorrow and deep regret for the things we have done that I stand here today and say we were wrong, we apologize, I am sorry, we are sorry,” said the Prime Minister.
Reaction from other House leaders was positive.
Andrew Scheer, Leader of the Official Opposition, said “How you treat your fellow Canadians, how you work every single day to make this country stronger, how you give of yourself to your families, your communities, and your loved ones—those are the true measures of one's love for Canada."
From the New Democratic Party, Guy Caron said "this apology should be the springboard for action... It is our hope, Mr. Speaker, that all Canadians take today as an opportunity to move forward & continue to build the inclusive, accepting country that we all know we can be."
“The government is not only apologizing today, but has also committed to expunging the records of past convictions under anti-LGBTQ2 laws,” said Hawkes. “These laws did a lot of damage to a lot of people and I’m proud that at last, these people can have their names and their dignity restored.”