Daniel Bastian: Director, LGBTQ Youth Center

The Consensus team received a letter telling of the creation of a LGBTQ youth centre at Beaconsfield United Church. Let us welcome them and remember to give them a visit when you’re in Quebec. Here is an excerpt from the letter:

Since May 2011, the LGBTQ Youth Cenre has provided a safe space where queer-identified and questioning teens in the West Island of Montreal can meet, talk, develop relationships and understand themselves better as queer-identified people. We offer a drop-in service where area teens may easily and safely seek guidance, care and support individually or in a group setting. Inquiries are confidential, and the Cetnre follows safe space guidelines which strive to respect each participant’s background and circumstances. The West Island community has demonstrated interest and support for our initiative, and is coming together to help create an authentic, genuine program for this “at risk” group of youth in our midst.  Continue reading →

Hi, my name is Marco Ste-Marie, I communicated with you last spring, asking you to join Affirm United in the special worship regarding the International Day Against Homophobia in the month of May 2011. That event was successful and many congregations celebrated either on that day or on the  pride day in their respective towns.

This year will be the 10^th anniversary of the International Day Against Homophobia. We are asking all Affirming Ministries to do a special worship this coming May 20^th 2012.  We hope that more congregations will follow and other denominations will be encouraged to participate as well.

Start getting the word out in your congregation, church board, local LGBT groups, and other Christian denominations (even other faith groups).

It is a great opportunity to reaffirm your engagement in the LGBT cause and spread the word that God welcomes all. Homophobia is still present and the progress we have made is still fragile. Many teen suicides have been caused by bullying.

Let’s celebrate inclusivity together.

In Christ,
Marco Ste-Marie Affirm United/S’affirmer ensemble

http://www.affirmunited.ca/englishindex.htm
http://egliseunielapasserelle.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/%C3%89glise-Unie-La-Passerelle/121529374597231

L’année 2012 sera l’occasion de souligner le 10^e anniversaire des campagnes annuelles de la journée internationale contre l’homophobie (17 mai). Comme je l’ai fait l’année passée, je vous invite à vous joindre aux autres paroisses inclusives de l’Église unie du Canada dans un culte spécial soulignant cet événement important (nous suggérons le dimanche 20 mai).

C’est une opportunité de réaffirmer notre engagement en tant que paroisse inclusive et de faire rayonner cet accueil au-delà de nos murs.

L’Homophobie est encore bien présente dans notre société et les gains faits sont encore fragiles. C’est pour cette raison que je fais appel à votre coopération et votre implication dans cette cause.

Passer le mot dans votre paroisse, vos groupes LGBT locaux et autres confessions chrétiennes de votre ville. Je vous enverrais des ressources spéciales pour célébrer ce culte.

Marco Ste-Marie, Affirm United/S’affirmer ensemble

 http://www.affirmunited.ca/englishindex.htm
http://egliseunielapasserelle.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/%C3%89glise-Unie-La-Passerelle/121529374597231