The Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) brings us collective programs connecting Unitarians across Canada. This December they are hosting an offering to address an important justice issue for humanity. The current United States government has been targeting multiple marginalized groups, and the rights of transgender people to exist, recieve care, and move through society without fear have been prominently among those attacks. The rhetoric and policy points against transgender care and recognition are present in Candian politics, including a Bill introduced in B.C. earlier this fall. That Bill didn’t make it to first hearing, but the misinformation is here under the compelling guise of “parental rights” and “protecting women and children”.
Canadian Unitarian Council staff are sponsoring a program in response to the question “what can we do?” They’re bringing in the Transforming Hearts Collective, a collective of Unitarian Universalist queer, transgender and nonbinary faith leaders who provide support and educational programming. They are offering Candian Unitarian Universalists a 3-part program, free of charge, on building safer, more welcoming spaces for trans and queer people.
Allies, accomplices, and advocates from each CUC congregation and community are invited to take part. We would like to send at least two ally representatives from Vancouver Unitarians willing to bring the learning back to us so we can engage in this work together. Participants will learn from the program’s creators, connect across our networks, and gain knowledge to equip our congregation with the tools to act with courage and compassion.
CUC sponsored sessions on the “Responding to the Anti-Trans Movement” course will take place on December 2, 4, and 9 at 4:00 pm pacific time, and the series will finish on Saturday, December 13th, 10:00 am PT, with a Q&A session with Transforming Hearts Collective co-creators Alex Kapitan and Teo Drake. You may attend any or all sessions of this series, although you will gain the most by attending all four.
Let Kiersten and Shawn know if you plan to attend so that we can follow up with you. If these dates do not work for you, you can also take this course, and others, independently with a sliding scale fee directly at transformingheartscollective.org/online-courses
Read the full description and ask questions at the Canadian Unitarian Council website (cuc.ca)