Since our founding in 2011 we have focused our energy on increasing awareness that LGBTQ+ affirming faith communities exist in the Merrimack Valley area. We help to connect those seeking a spiritual home with one that shares their values. We educate the community and our member congregations on LGBTQ+ issues to help break stereotypes harming both LGBTQ+ individuals and communities of faith in general. We seek to maintain an interfaith alliance to live out our common call to love one another and help to foster understanding of our various faith communities through our shared belief in the humanity and divinity of ALL individuals
We fulfill our mission through these, and similar, activities and events:
- expanded our membership from the original 8 founding member congregations to 23, representing the Episcopal, Jewish, Lutheran, Unitarian Universalist, United Church of Christ, United Methodist, and Catholic faiths.
- sponsored/hosted/co-hosted programs open to the community:
- “Coming Out and Keeping the Faith” April, 2013 at Northern Essex Community College
- Interfaith Service for Transgender Justice, March, 2017, at Christ Church Episcopal, led by Rabbi Karen Landy and Rev. Lee Bluemel
- “Meet Your Transgender Neighbors,” November 2017, co-sponsored by the Memorial Hall Library in Andover
- advocated for the passage of the November 2018 ballot question protecting the rights of transgender persons in public accommodations
- co-sponsored a Merrimack Valley Community Meeting with Freedom for all Massachusetts at South Church in May, 2018, to build support for upholding transgender equality
- hosted and participated in phone bank sessions supported by four of our member congregations in Andover, Haverhill and Lowell
- created and paid for two advertisements with faith leader signatures urging Yes on Question 3 in the Andover Townsman and the Lawrence Eagle Tribune
- purchased and distributed copies of “Trans Teen Survival Guide” to all of our member congregations and thirteen local public libraries
- provided posters, brochures, business cards, ideas and encouragement to our member congregations to assist in making known their welcoming status
- had a table, chatted with people and distributed relevant literature at the Lowell Folk Festival and Andover Day; participated in interfaith Thanksgiving services, donated to and participated in Pride events
- supported PFLAG and McVAGLY organizations
