
Annual Pride Week to Kick Off with Multi-Faith Event
Toledo’s LGBTQ+ community will launch its 2021 Pride weekend with a multi-faith service Thursday, August 19, at 7 p.m. in the First Unitarian Church Yard at 3205 Glendale Avenue.
Keynoting the service is Equality Toledo’s Executive Director Sheena Barnes, speaking on “Our Interdependence.” Other participants include Toledo City Council Member Nick Komives, Equality Toledo Board Chair Billy Mann, LGBTQ+ people of faith, and allies from the Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, and Unitarian traditions.
An affirmation of the community AS people of faith BY people of faith, the event will be live-streamed at www.facebook.com/equalitytoledo. It will be moved indoors in the event of rain.
Several area faith communities, including First Unitarian, have gone through a formal process and publicize themselves as welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community, including performing marriage ceremonies and welcoming LGBTQ+ people in leadership roles.
The event is organized by Equality Toledo Faith Leaders, chaired by Pastor Martin Billmaier of St. Lucas Lutheran Church