About the Conference

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It all began the summer of 2008 when Harry Stewart and his partner Chris Southin went to a screening of For the Bible Tells Me So, an exposé of how the Bible has been used to support exclusion and discrimination. A number in the audience were from the LGBT2SQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, two-spirit, & queer/questioning) community and it was very evident that there was a longing among those gathered to be connected, in a meaningful way, to a faith community.

Harry and Chris, both members at Zion United Church in Thessalon and the first gay couple to be married in a Church setting in the Algoma region, were moved by the experience.

They approached the Algoma Presbytery of the United Church of Canada with an idea. The result is "Focus on the Gay Family" an event aimed at connecting members of the LGBT2SQ community with churches who want to welcome them. They have received funding from both Algoma Presbytery as well as the national office of The United Church of Canada.