Worshipping with Love

2022 - 2023

Worshipping With Love is a research project to create a safer place for 2SLGBTQ+ people everywhere, but specifically for 2SLGBTQ+ people of faith in Ontario.

Although Canada is a leader in 2SLGBTQ+ legislation, many people in different sectors of Canadian society still experience homophobia and transphobia. This has led to higher rates of suicide, addiction, and mental health issues in these communities. It has also led to higher rates of unemployment, hate crimes, and marginalization. 2SLGBTQ+ discrimination is often justified by religious belief by different faith traditions. Canada is currently at an important juncture: now that conversion therapy has been banned, other, more insidious and invisible efforts could take their place in faith-based communities to force individuals to repress their sexual and gender identity.

RFF is a leader in this new chapter of LGBTI activism. This chapter begins with Worshiping with Love, a project RFF developed to create a safer place for 2SLGBTQ+ people everywhere, but specifically for 2SLGBTQ+ people of faith. Worshiping with Love is a 2-year, Ontario-based project funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada. We will start by conducting research alongside 2SLGBTQ+ folks and affirming faith organizations to better understand the extent and impact of religious-based discrimination. We will examine both the best practices of affirming faith communities and barriers experienced by those trying to become affirming. The results of all our research will be published on our website, in our newsletter and on social media, and shared with everyone who has participated. We will develop resources and materials to both create awareness and increase organizations' capabilities to become affirming to the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The materials will be distributed online, for faith-based institutions such as places of worship and community organizations across Ontario.

Though RFF has a global mandate to end religious-based discrimination, this particular project is focused on Ontario, Canada and achieving inclusion and equality for 2SLGBTQ+ people in Ontario.

If you would like to find out more or get involved in this project please email: volunteer@rainbowfaithandfreedom.org


This project has been funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada.

 
 

Fiji and Jamaica

2023 - 2025

This project aims to harmonize LGBTI activism with the fundamentals of religion, acceptance and compassion in Jamaica and Fiji.

The goal of this project is to change the hearts and minds of families and faith communities in Jamaica and Fiji so that they can become more inclusive and embrace LGBTI people of faith in order to improve their lives, allow them to express themselves completely and be an integral part of their families and faith communities. It seeks to improve the lives of LGBTI people of faith in Fiji and Jamaica, by changing social norms or community acceptance on LGBTI issues and by reducing discrimination and violence. Homophobia and transphobia have impacted every institution of society throughout history, and while we recognise that religion has contributed significantly to this, we aim to shift religious narratives through dialogue with LGBTI people of faith to focus on the fact that the central value for all of the major world religions is compassion, and that no religious tradition actually promotes the marginalisation of human beings. Religion can be either an obstacle or an asset in expanding human rights for LGBTI people. Overwhelming evidence has shown however that religion has been  a major obstacle to the full inclusion of LGBTI people in society.  A religious attack requires a religious response, and the LGBTI community needs more training and strategizing around how to confront religious attacks. LGBTI people have historically had to choose between their spirituality and their sexuality, a choice no one should have to make. They are both attacked by the religious right and often ostracized within the LGBTI community because of their association to faith and religion. While religion has historically been the enemy of LGBTI people, many LGBTI people are also people of faith, and this opposition has added to their difficulties.

This project will focus primarily on the following:

  1. Providing opportunities for gathering, documenting and disseminating stories of hurt, hope and healing regarding the impact of religion on LGBTI people.

  2. A national consultation will be held on ideas for addressing religious-based homophobia and transphobia.

  3. That resources be gathered and promoted regarding comprehensive sexual education programs.

  4. That resources be gathered and promoted for religious leaders regarding biblical interpretation.

This project is funded by the Government of Canada.

 

Costa Rica

2023 - ongoing

Costa Rica, historically a 2SLGBTQ+ safe haven, has recently seen a significant increase in religious hate. RFF is working with activists on the ground to support both short and long term solutions.

Historically Costa Rica has served as a haven of safety for 2SLGBTQ+ Latin Americans. However, recently the US Evangelical movement has been pouring money into Costa Rica leading to an increase in religious hate. With the rise of Christian Fundamentalism in Costa Rica, it’s very timely and necessary for RFF to be working with activists on the ground in Costa Rica. Things will not change overnight, however RFF is making a long term commitment to Costa Rica. We will work with activists on the ground to support both short and long term solutions. 

The first step involves gathering stories of how religion has negatively impacted LGBTI people in Costa Rica. We need to give an opportunity for people to tell their stories and to gather examples of the damage religion has done, and to show the necessity of a different way of dealing with religion. We believe that by using storytelling, we can help to heal part of the damage done by religious-based discrimination, especially to those LGBTI members that see their religion as a painful part of their lives, and therefore they avoid approaching religious organizations because of their fear and resentment.

Secondly, we will begin a process to consult Costa Rican activists, organizations, and allies to begin to develop short, medium and long term solutions for decreasing religious-based homophobia and religious-based transphobia. Costa Rica has a strong LGBTI history of activism built on the need to legalize equal marriage, which happened in 2020, thanks to the efforts of the National Movement for Equal Marriage. So, there is sufficient ground to start working with those organizations and activists to keep improving the social environment and to reduce the stigma against LGBTI people based due to religious-based discrimination.

Such solutions might include: Training young LGBTI activists on how to have respectful dialogue with religious leaders, in particular local pastors; empowering allies to be respectful spokespersons; and identifying and empowering supportive churches, synagogues, mosques who are found to be safer places and encouraging other faith communities to become safer.