22/04/2024
The Unitarian Church, also known as the Free Christian or Unitarian-Universalist Faith, has since the nineteenth century advocated free enquiry and a very personal relationship with God. Indeed, you could call this liberal and progressive church to be the logical conclusion of the Protestant revolution begun in Northern Europe in the fifteenth century. Unitarians have welcomed LGBTQIA+ people to worship for generations and now one Unitarian congregation in Alberta, Canada, where a Conservative state legislature proposes to target trans people with their ideology of hate, has arranged for a trans inclusive drag themed service to celebrate Easter and welcome in the Spring. The “Drag Me to Church” service will coincide with Easter Sunday and the International Trans Day of Visibility, a day recognizing the contributions of trans people and the challenges they still face. “No matter what tradition you’re from, I guarantee you that you will have people in your community who identify on the 2SLGBTQIA+ spectrum — whether they are free to say it or not,” the Rev. Samaya Oakley, the minister of the Calgary Unitarians, told the Edmonton Journal. “If we are truly people who believe in the goodness and the inherent love that exists in this world, then we would extend that to people on that spectrum.” The all-ages Easter service, which the church calls a “sacred act of protest,” will feature drag performances, a drag queen storytime, and multiple speakers addressing the question, “What does TRANSformation mean today?” Unitarian minister Oakley said the event is designed to support transgender Albertans through the “current political climate.” “One of our principles is the inherent worth and dignity of every person,” Oakley said. “And that’s where we come from in terms of this work.” Collections from Sunday’s service will benefit Skipping Stone, a local not-for-profit that supports trans and gender-diverse Calgarians.
