Sing Out Proud: Music and Conversation
Wednesday, February 19, Zoom
5pm PST/ 6pm MST / 7pm CST /8pm EST / 9pm AST / 9:30pm NST
Join Affirming Connections and Affirm United/S'affirmer Ensemble for our official pre-PIE Day event! We’ll welcome winners from our song contest for live performances and conversation.
Join Affirming Connections and Affirm United/S'affirmer Ensemble for our official pre-National Affirming/PIE Day event. We will welcome some the winners from our National Affirming/PIE Day song contest for music and conversation. Join us to get inspired!
PIE Day happens on March 14 every year, where we celebrate being Public, Intentional, and Explicit in our unconditional Affirmation and celebration of all 2SLGBTQIA+ identities. You can listen to and find the lyrics, audio, and lead sheets of the winning songs and choir performance, right here, to use in your PIE Day events. We’re honoured that the illustrious David Kai arranged the lead sheets for the winning songs!
Speak up for trans youth!
The majority of Canadians agree that ALL people deserve access to healthcare, education, safety, and respect, including trans youth. Freedom is an illusion unless it also means freedom for everyone, and freedom from discrimination.
Let's grab the megaphone, spread love, and show that the Canada we envision is a place where everyone is welcome to be who they are, without fear.
Click here to download MY CANADA and MY ALBERTA images and sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of our website to stay in touch!
For a list of topical resources on the latest 2SLGBTQ+ issues in Canada, click here!
Celebrate National Affirming/PIE Day!
Let’s use our voices in a new way this PIE Day!
What is PIE all about? PIE stands for: Public, Intentional and Explicit; three ways to test how genuine our welcome of gender and sexual diversity is. This year’s theme, "Sing Out Proud," represents our sharing of values and joy in celebrating difference and diversity throughout our beloved 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
We are excited to share our inaugural PIE Day song contest's winning original songs and choir performance. The video and songs (lyrics & sheet music) on our our PIE Day website for you to use in your PIE Day event(s).
How can you “Sing Out Proud” this PIE Day?
Bring together local 2SLGBTQIA+ musicians or choirs to perform for a PIE Day concert or service
Ask your community’s singers or choir to perform one of the winning PIE Day songs
Host an open mic night fundraiser for a local 2SLGBTQIA+ serving group, with pie served at intermission
Learn and sing a new PIE Day song together at the next anti-2SLGBTQIA+ protest. In the 1960s, “We Shall Overcome” became the song sung at peaceful demonstrations and is still used today. Create a new tradition of protest songs!
Think of what it means to you to “Sing Out Proud” through music, arts, food, or whatever else you can dream up!
Submit your PIE event to the official calendar here. Tag Affirming Connections and Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble as you share stories and photos on social media so we can celebrate alongside you!
Queer Interfaith Coalition
The Queer Interfaith Coalition (QIC) and its Affirming allies are reclaiming the religious voice from those who have sought to weaponize faith. We believe that all 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals are created in the Divine Image and that advocacy for their human rights is not antithetical to faith, but a central tenet of our religious faiths.
To learn more and sign onto our open letter, visit our page here.
Join our United Against Hate campaign!
Affirming Connections stands in support of drag performers, trans, gender diverse, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities across Canada.
We have seen an apparent rise in malicious misinformation, conspiracy theories, threats, and violence that target drag performers, and the queer and trans communities. In 2023 alone, hate crimes against the queer community rose by 69%, and this number continues to increase.
Add your name to this letter with 400+ others show your public support for 2SLGBTQ+ people who have been facing the brunt of this targeted discrimination. Your voice on this issue truly matters.
Drag FAQ’s Answered
Affirming Connections started the United Against Hate campaign to address the surge in misinformation, disinformation, and violence targeting drag performers and trans people. We compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions we encounter, then asked experts from a variety of fields—including affirming faith leaders, drag performers, educators, academics and researchers—to answer them.