Tens of thousands of people gathered in downtown Victoria on Sunday, July 6th, as Pride Week in Victoria culminated with the 2025 Pride Parade and Pride Festival in the Park. Watch the video below (it will start in the middle of the parade, where we are featured) to see UUCV’s delegation march proudly with our huge pride banner! You can also see our youth delegation with their giant Pride Puppet they crafted during our Pride Week youth camp.
This year, Chek News asked us some background questions about our historical involvement with LGBTQ+ rights and the Pride movement (you’ll hear one of our “factoids” being shared in the video above). With the help of some of our amazing volunteers, we gathered the following info, which I thought I’d share here:
What community initiatives have you been involved in this year?
As Unitarian Universalists, we hold space for diversity. We see the dignity in each and every person. We honour the interconnectness of this beautiful planet, and we hold love at the centre. That’s why we have long stood for social justice and the inherent beauty in each and every person. It’s why we are marching today.
Throughout the year, we work in small groups and fundraise to support various initiatives that matter to our community, including Truth and Reconciliation, Anti-Poverty, Greater Victoria Acting Together, refugee sponsorship, Environmental & Climate Action, and international solidarity through the Zoie Gardner and Child Haven International funds.
Tell us about your entry, including float info, decorations, design, special outfits, participants, etc.
How many parades have you been in?
Share some fun facts or anecdotes about your business and/or your parade participation. The more info, the better!
- Winnipeg’s Unitarian Universalist Church performed Canada’s first same-sex church wedding in 1974. Although same-sex marriage wasn’t legalized in Canada until 2004, Richard North and Chris Vogel were issued a marriage certificate by the church 40 years beforehand. Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/morsl/
article/queer-history-month- unitarian-universalism
- The Unitarian Universalist Community of Victoria participates in the Unitarian Universalist Association’s “Welcoming Congregation Program“. As a Welcoming Congregation we have pledged to:
- honor the lives of all people and equally affirm displays of caring and affection without regard for sexual orientation.
- celebrate diversity by using inclusive language and content in worship.
- incorporate an understanding of the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons throughout all of our programs, including religious education.
- affirm and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer issues and history.
- affirm marriage equality and conduct same-sex weddings. Advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, promoting justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society. We speak out when the rights and dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are at stake.
- More: https://victoriaunitarian.ca/
welcoming-congregation/
- The UUCV is proud of our inspiring and compassionate co-ministers, Revs. Shana & Melora Lynngood. As members of the LGBTQ+ community themselves, the Lynngoods are active supporters of our community’s Pride participation. https://
victoriaunitarian.ca/meet-our- ministers/
- We celebrate Pride with a special Sunday service each year. Here is this year’s: https://
victoriaunitarian.ca/pride- sunday/
Tell us about how your group or business values diversity
Diversity is right in the heart of what we do. Unitarian Universalists see diversity as a strength. We come together around 8 principles. We covenant to these principles instead of one particular creed or dogma, because we believe that what matters is not who or what you believe in, but how you live your life.
Our principles are:
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
- Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
- A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
- Individual and communal action that accountably dismantles racism and systemic barriers to full inclusion in ourselves and our institutions