On Wednesday, June 19th, Trillium members and friends from the neighbourhood gathered on the front yard to take part in the pride painting of the steps. It’s become an annual celebration, a way for the church to welcome the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
The event successfully raised funds in support of OK2BME, an organization that provides essential support services to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. This organization was selected by Trillium’s youth group, which pledged to match donations with a grant from the Renewal Fund aimed at assisting organizations in serving the broader community.
![Children painting rainbow colours on the front steps at Trillium.](https://trilliumwaterloo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/448652861_779023707738612_200702867910510418_n-1024x576.jpg)
Welcoming the 2SLGBTQIA+ community has been a priority for Trillium. The youth and confirmation classes of the Trillium have played a large part in leading these efforts, writing the Welcome Statement back in 2022:
!["We embrace all those who have ever felt excluded by the Church because of age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ability, economic circumstance, or family status.
Whether you are two-spirited, gay, straight, queer, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, cisgender, intersex, questioning, gender fluid, asexual, pansexual or ally, whatever your country of origin or ancestry; whether you are a believer, a doubter or a seeker, in Christ's love, we welcome you.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, may we co-conspire with those within and beyond our community to usher in God's kingdom of justice and peace."](https://trilliumwaterloo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Trillium-Welcome-Statement-rev-20220425-1024x789.png)
Read the full welcome statement.
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this happen! Check out the full album of photos from the event on our Facebook page.