LGBTQ+ people from six countries are heading to Canada to share their stories
LGBTQ+ people and community partners from six countries are travelling to Canada for an international exchange beginning on 28 September.
LGBTQ+ people from communities across Africa, Asia and Latin America are travelling to Canada for an unusual international exchange bringing together experiences from six very different countries.
Participants and community partners from Zambia, Mozambique, Kenya, South Korea, Colombia and the Philippines will meet 2S and LGBTQIA+ people in Canada during a programme beginning on 28 September 2026
Instead of everyone simply attending one conference, visitors will meet communities, organisations and individuals while travelling through different parts of Canada.
That gives participants an opportunity to talk directly about LGBTQ+ life where they live, while hearing how Canadian communities have developed their own networks and support.
The exchange is being organised by the United Church of Canada, with faith forming one part of a much wider conversation about LGBTQ+ identity, community and belonging.
A public event called Faith Beyond Borders: Global Voices for LGBTQIA+ Justice will also take place in Toronto on 1 October, giving some of the international visitors an opportunity to share their experiences directly with a Canadian audience.
Parts of the delegation will travel beyond Toronto, including visits involving guests from Kenya and Zambia to Winnipeg and Brandon, before the wider programme continues elsewhere.
The strongest part of the project is the people involved. Rather than discussing LGBTQ+ communities in different countries from a distance, it puts people living those experiences in the same room and gives them the opportunity to speak for themselves.
Experiences are likely to differ enormously between the six participating countries, but the exchange is built around finding common ground, sharing ideas and creating relationships between LGBTQ+ communities thousands of miles apart.
The international exchange begins on 28 September. Find details of the visiting partners and upcoming public events through the United Church of Canada.
