LGBTQ2+ rights in Canada have come a long way since the police bathhouse raids of 1981 in Toronto. Today, gay couples can get married and have children. Their rights are enshrined in legislation and human rights codes. Toronto’s annual Pride Month attracts hundreds of thousands to the city to celebrate, show pride and stand in solidarity.

One hurdle, a large one, remains in the path to full equal rights: religious belief. To many, their culture’s interpretation of religion defines being gay as a sin. And LGBTQ2+ individuals who are religious have often suffered in attempting to reconcile these two sides of their identity.

But religions can often be interpreted in many ways, and none is a monolith.

Panelists:
Rev. Brent Hawkes, Founder, Rainbow Faith & Freedom Movement
Michale Coren, Author and Columnist
Tasnim Jessa-Pardhan, Finance Executive.
Ahmed Ahmed, Human Rights Professional