The service was hosted at McDougall United Church in Calgary and livestreamed on YouTube.
This event celebrates the beautiful intersection of faith and 2SLGBTQIA+ identity, affirming that you can be ALL parts of yourself. It is proudly presented by Affirming Connections and Calgary’s Affirming Network of Faith Communities.
Our 2026 theme is "Water + Light," gesturing to the ingredients for a rainbow. This reflects not only the symbolic importance of the rainbow to Pride, but the significance of water and light as fundamental ingredients for life itself - a reminder of our responsibility to nourish, support and protect one another in challenging times.
Queer Theology series:
Jaye Brix on Deconstructing Bad Theology
Bad theology hurts. It hurts the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community, it hurts our communities of faith, and it hurts folks who feel held down under the thumb of harmful language, tradition, and belief.
This three-week series invites us into a process of deconstructing the theologies that restrict us as we seek to expand our affirming ministry and live out faithful discipleship that celebrates diversity as sacred. Jaye Brix (they/she) joined us live at our third session! Jaye is an ex-pastor who uses their experience, education, and creativity to help folks on their liberation journey, leaving behind ‘church’ that hurts.
Watch all three sessions on our Vimeo channel here.
Hosted by Affirming Connections and Pacific Mountain Region Affirming Ministry.
“What The Hell?” short film and discussion guide
A New Short Film by Affirming Connections
“What the hell…is hell all about?”
What have we been taught about it, and how has it been used to enforce certain ways of thinking and acting?
Millions of people believe in some sort of hell in the afterlife. It can be terrifying to wonder who may end up there, whether it's ourselves or someone we love.
Why is hell often used to shame LGBTQ2S+ folks and others who may not fit into a prescribed norm? Is Christianity obsessed with trying to judge who is in and who is out?
We interviewed 19 people from across Canada and asked them these questions. What do these clergy members, faith leaders, community leaders, queer folks, and allies believe about hell? We found some very thought-provoking, poignant, funny, and life-giving answers!
We created this film as a resource for anyone to watch and reflect on these issues, and we welcome you to share it with your church or community. We have also created a discussion guide that can be used to facilitate conversations and dive into the theological aspects of ideas and misconceptions around hell.
Media Training and Allyship with James Demers
Whether you're a community leader, activist, faith leader, or simply an ally looking to deepen your understanding and support for gender and sexually diverse-communities, this session is designed to empower you with the knowledge and skills needed to create a more inclusive and affirming community where you are. This session will equip you with essential knowledge, language, and actionable steps to support 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. You will learn context and language to support gender and sexually diverse communities in our current social and political climate, from an action-oriented perspective.
About our facilitator: James Demers (He/Him) previously worked in the charitable arts sector for 14 years at the Executive Director level and serves as an EDI educator across many sectors including healthcare, social services, tech, and organizational change. James is a GSD (Gender & Sexually Diverse) content expert specializing in Gender Identity and Inclusion.
Small Town, Big Impact: Stories and Strategies from the Affirming Journey
In this 3-part video series, we interviewed Affirming leaders (clergy and lay) from smaller or more rural communities, who have all personally journeyed along the Affirming path with their community of faith. We asked them what it is/was like, how the conversations developed, what roadblocks they faced and are facing, and how this work has impacted both their ministry and the wider community.
We are so grateful to the folks who shared their stories and learnings to make this series possible. These videos can help you and your community jumpstart meaningful conversations around discerning your Affirming path, beginning the process, or revitalizing your existing Affirming Ministry. We hope you find this a good jumping off point to begin or re-energize your Affirming efforts!
Community Safety Training
Recording available
This practical and relevant workshop (recorded from the live event on June 3, 2025) teaches ways to protect yourself and marginalized communities at protests and events, through effective de-escalation and creative nonviolence. Enhance your safety and self-defense toolbelt.
Led by experienced Community Protection Facilitator, and Head of Security at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Aidan McKendrick!
