PIE day reminds us to embody love and celebrate gender and sexual diversity in all its forms.
March 14 is PIE Day, and in church circles it has nothing to do with math. “PIE” is short for “public, intentional, and explicit”—the standards we hold ourselves to when we seek to live into being affirming, welcoming, and inclusive people and communities.
PIE Day was co-founded by Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble and Affirming Connections. Every year, Affirm United invites the church to celebrate the full inclusion of 2SLGBTQIA+ people in faith communities and beyond. The day also reminds and challenges us to continue widening our welcome to embody love and celebrate gender and sexual diversity in all its forms. It’s critical that we do.
Gender identity and sexual orientation continue to be used to justify serious human rights violations around the world. Same-sex sexual activity is a crime in 71 countries; in 11 of these the death penalty is at least a possibility. Canada is now home to 1 million people who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+. In 2019, police reported a 41 percent increase in hate crimes targeting people for their sexual orientation over the previous year, the highest total since 2009.
Your gifts through Mission and Service sustain life-transforming advocacy and education work, including supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees fleeing for their lives and providing community awareness education, human rights programs, and safe spaces.
This work is vitally important. For some, it means the difference between life and death.
Thank you for giving through Mission and Service. God’s compassionate love knows no boundaries. Your generosity shows ours doesn’t either.