Pride Month is in full swing. World Refugee Day and The Episcopal Church’s General Convention are just around the corner. In this blog post, we discuss how EMM and its Rainbow Initiative partners are leveraging these events to show solidarity with LGBTQ+ people who have sought refuge and how you can join in.

First, about these events:

  • Pride Month is celebrated annually in June, when hundreds of communities across the world stage parades and festivals to bring visibility to LGBTQ+ people and advocate for their civil and human rights. Many Episcopal dioceses and parishes participate by marching to symbolize the radical inclusivity of our Church and by hosting special Pride masses.
  • World Refugee Day is marked annually on June 20 to celebrate and honor people who have been forced to flee their homelands.
  • General Convention is the triennial gathering of representatives from all dioceses of The Episcopal Church to set the direction for us to move forward together. This year, it is being held in Louisville, KY, from January 23 to 28.

At the previous General Convention, it was resolved to prioritize attention towards LGBTQ+ people who had fled for safety, including refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented people, and others. In response, EMM established the Rainbow Initiative, now comprising 28 members throughout the United States and Europe. In 2023, our partnership reached hundreds of thousands of people through Pride and World Refugee Day events, detailed in this blog post.

This year we are expanding our witness at Pride through support from the United Thank Offering, which will also enable us to support the development of our partners’ service ministries. We’re also inaugurating a new partnership with Switchboard, Clark University’s Department of Sustainability and Social Justice, InReach, the LGBT Asylum Task Force, and Oasis Legal Services to produce educational resources about LGBTQ+ newcomers that will strengthen the work of service providers. And of course, we will be at General Convention to educate decision-makers from every diocese of our Church about LGBTQ+ forced migrants: Who they are, our call to provide them with aid and solidarity, and how each of us can become part of this ministry.

We invite everyone reading this to become part of this ministry! For resources to help you along this path, visit the Rainbow Initiative webpage.

  • In your mind, your spirit, and your home: Learn about and pray for LGBTQ+ individuals who have been forced to flee their homelands for safety from dozens of countries, including around 70 that now make it illegal to be LGBTQ+. Tell your elected officials that you care by using this action alert. Sign up for the Rainbow Initiative email list.
  • In your congregation: Learn and discern together. Include prayers that draw attention to LGBTQ+ forced migrants in your Pride or World Refugee Day services. Distribute informational fliers. Display posters expressing concern and welcome. Join EMM as a Rainbow Initiative Congregation/Community (RIC).
  • In your diocese: Draw attention to LGBTQ+ newcomers in Pride and World Refugee Day events using Rainbow Initiative posters and fliers. Invite EMM to provide a virtual briefing.
  • In the global Episcopal Church: If you will be at General Convention, get to know the EMM team and learn more about EMM’s mission. If you are a delegate, prayerfully consider resolutions that relate to LGBTQ+ newcomers.

To learn more, contact the Rainbow Initiative at [email protected].