MCC Toronto in the 1991 Toronto Pride parade

Pride began as a protest and remains a witness to the courage, resilience, and joy of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. This year, as Pride Toronto proclaims “We Won’t Stop,” we gather in that same spirit, celebrating how far we’ve come while recognizing that the holy work of justice, inclusion, and liberation continues.

For generations, queer and trans people have faced attempts to silence, exclude, and erase us. Yet we are still here. We are still loving, still creating, still advocating, still building beloved community. AND WE WON’T STOP!

The prophet Isaiah declares, “Arise, shine; for your light has come.” Not because every struggle has ended, but because God’s light is already present among us, in our courage, our compassion, our community, and our hope. That light calls us to step up, again and again, and to help build a world where every person is celebrated as sacred.

At the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, we believe every person bears the image of God, every love reflects God’s love, and every life has immeasurable, sacred worth. May this gathering renew your spirit, deepen your connections, and remind you that you belong.

Welcome! Happy Pride! And together, we won’t stop – we will RISE!

Rev. Deana Dudley (she/they)
Senior Pastor, MCC Toronto

CHURCH ON CHURCH 2026

Shambala / Long Train Runnin’ / Bridge Over Troubled Water
Written by Three Dog Night / Doobie Brothers / Paul Simon
Performed by Julie Michels (she/her) & the Choir of MCC Toronto

Welcome
Rev. Deana Dudley (she/they)

Land Acknowledgement
Kenyatta Barnaby (he/him)

River
Written by Leon Bridges
Performed by Jennarie (she/her) & the Choir of MCC Toronto

Opening Prayer
JJ Viviers (they/them/ask me)

Inner Ninja
Written by Classified
Performed by Troy Adams (he/him) & the Choir of MCC Toronto

Prayers of the People
Rev. Junia Joplin (she/her)

Let Love Be Your Goal
Written and performed by Kim Doolittle (she/her) & the Choir of MCC Toronto

Isaiah 60: 1-2
Rev. Junia Joplin (she/her)

Never Been Small
Written and performed by Jennarie

Spiritual Reflection “We Won’t Stop – We Will Rise and Shine!”
Rev. Deana Dudley (she/they)

Celebrate Me
Written by Inga Rose
Performed by Troy Adams (he/him) & the Choir of MCC Toronto

Call for Offering
Brad Breg & Brian Rolfes

Higher Love
Written by Steve Winwood
Performed by Julie Michels & the Choir of MCC Toronto

Benediction
Rev. Deana Dudley (she/they)

Closing
Rev. Deana Dudley (she/they) & Rev. Junia Joplin (she/her)

This Little Light of Mine / Let The Sunshine In / We Are Family
Written by Traditional Spiritual / Stephen Schwartz / Sister Sledge
Performed by the Choir of MCC Toronto

Jason Jestadt (he/him)

Jason is a Dora nominated Music Director who has worked on many musical theatre productions and
concerts in Toronto, from the Queen musical We Will Rock You, to conducting the Toronto production
of Come From Away, to accompanying acclaimed singer Colm Wilkinson on a tour to Japan. In 2019, Jason took on the role of Music Director at MCC Toronto.

Jennarie (she/her)

Proudly queer, Jennarie is a powerhouse independent artist whose music celebrates underrepresented voices while foregrounding themes of self-love, body liberation, and personal agency. Check out her YouTube video about her first experience singing at MCC Toronto in 2025.

Troy Adams (he/him)

“Queer Joy to me is living in my truth. Queer Joy is a Forged Joy. Thru adversity, diversity, love and pain…it’s time to celebrate our ‘Inner Ninjas.’ Happy Pride.”

Kim Doolittle (she/her)

“We are all God’s children, no mistakes have been made. To be a human is to be diverse and no matter what our representation, we all want Love, Peace, Safety, Acceptance and Understanding. I think we only gain by educating ourselves in Tolerance and Openness. Knowledge is power.  We are all in this together.”

Julie Michels (she/her)

“I came to MCC over 3 decades ago as a hired musician.  I fell in love with the spirit and community, the joy and the integrity, the drive for human rights and inclusion and the wonderful music! I consider myself a lifelong Ally and will continue to walk beside my friends with passion as long as I breathe. Solidarity is the choice of making a stand, arm in arm and heart to heart to ensure the world is one that embraces and supports, encourages and educates all our journeys at every stage of our lives. I hope, with all my heart, that my music gives people joy and peace and self-awareness in their paths through their lives.  We all walk our paths, but the trick is to remember, you don’t have to walk alone.”

Peggy Ward (she/they) & the Choir of MCC Toronto

Under the leadership of Music Director Jason Jestadt (he/him), the Choir of MCC Toronto and Peggy Ward are integral part of Sunday Services and a popular community mainstay. The Choir have been featured performers at The Olympic Torch Relay, World Pride Opening Ceremony and the Celebration of Life for Jack Layton, among many others. The Choir has recorded 3 CDs: House of Love (featuring Louise Pitre); The Choir: Connected (with Thom Allison, Alana Bridgewater and Julie Michels) and These Old Walls (featuring Stephanie Martin). All are available to stream on Spotify.

Twenty-five years ago, on January 14, 2001, two couples gathered at MCC Toronto to make a simple but profound declaration: that their love was worthy of the same recognition, dignity, and protection afforded to others. None of us could have imagined how far that moment would travel.

What began at MCC Toronto helped spark a movement that reached far beyond our church, our city, and our country. Today, marriage equality exists in dozens of nations around the world, and I am deeply proud that our congregation played a role in that history.

For me, however, the significance of those marriages has never been simply about weddings. It has always been about human dignity. It has been about the recognition that 2SLGBTQIA+ people are entitled to the same rights, the same respect, and the same opportunities as everyone else.

Throughout history, people of faith have often stood at the forefront of movements for justice. Leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi drew upon their spiritual convictions to challenge systems of exclusion and inequality. The struggle for equal marriage was part of that same tradition; it’s a reminder that faith can be a force for liberation rather than oppression.

While we celebrate how far we have come, we know the work is not finished. Around the world, and even here at home, the rights and safety of 2SLGBTQIA+ people continue to face challenges. That is why I am grateful to see MCC Toronto continuing to lead with courage and compassion under the leadership of Rev. Deana Dudley and so many others committed to building a more just and loving world.

Twenty-five years later, I remain hopeful. Not because progress is inevitable, but because I have witnessed what determined people, grounded in love and justice, can accomplish together.

Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, C.M. (he/him)
Senior Pastor Emeritus, MCC Toronto

MCC Toronto is grateful to our 2026 Pride donors. Thank you for your support in helping us share our message of love and hope this Pride.

Lead Sponsor

Hon. Margaret McCain

Music Sponsors

Jim Scott & Jim Robertson

Sponsors

Anonymous x 8

Mr. Anonymous

Omo Akintan

Brad Berg & Brian Rolfes

Anne Brayley & Nanette Sanson

Cathy Brown

Bill Byrd & Rob Milkovich

Brian Cartwright

In Memory of David Corbett

Richard Davidson

Andrew Fleming & Roger Keglevich

Glenn Gebhardt

Andre Goh

Sèan Kennedy

Christine Leslie

Susan Maddick & Joan Lowden

Martin

Andrew Newbery

Don Otto

John Plumadore

Mark J. Stephenson

Helen Wiber

Kevin Wilcock

John Wright

Dianne & Bill Irvine

25 years ago, MCC Toronto became home to the world’s first legally recognized same-sex marriages.

Though love has never depended on paperwork to be sacred or true, legal recognition of same-sex marriage marked a watershed moment in the liberation of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

It means hospital visitations without question. The right to make medical decisions in crisis. The ability to adopt and raise children together. Spousal protections in death. Shared benefits, immigration sponsorship, inheritance, pension access. Safety and legal legitimacy. Dignity under the law.

25 years later, we asked the MCC Toronto community to share their love stories and advice on love.

RONNIE & DJ

TOGETHER 15 YEARS, ENGAGED

Ronnie: “The moment I realized that she was special to me was when she saw me on my worst days and didn’t look at me any differently …  What’s surprised me most about loving and growing with her is that we’ve been together since adolescence and yet I’m still learning her …

Sometimes when I look at her I see what kind of person God intended for us all to be … My relationship means everything to me. It’s like having that connection that keeps you grounded to Earth, when everything else around you is in disarray and destruction you can turn to that person and find some sort of peace even if it’s only for a moment …

The advice I would give to young queer and trans people would be to ensure you love yourself wholly and unapologetically first …

I’ve been attending online services with MCC Toronto for two years now as well as attend bible study when I can and I’m just so thankful to have a place I can come to and feel truly welcome and seen as a lesbian woman … I’m happier and more at peace with not only who I am but also with how I can build my relationship with God.”

GRACE & DEB

MARRIED AT MCC TORONTO, 2009

“Grace Ross and Deb Shantz – growing in love.“

ANONYMOUS

MARRIED AT MCC TORONTO, 2011

“We met on September 10, 2007, and married at MCC exactly four years later, on September 10, 2011. Although our journey together ended with our separation, it was never because of a lack of love …

She was my person—the one with whom I felt safest, the one I envisioned my past, present, and future with. She was, and is, the love of my life … I will always be grateful for that September day when I looked up, saw her for the first time, and knew my world had changed …

I always felt I had discovered a hidden jewel in her. Beneath her tough exterior was a deeply tender, sensitive, and vulnerable person, and she trusted me enough to let me see those parts of her that others did not have access to. In return, she saw mine … I was so proud to be her wife. Even after years together, every time I looked at her, the world seemed to stop for a moment. She took my breath away. Loving her changed me forever …

Be open to what may not seem obvious. When life gives you a moment that stops you in your tracks, pay attention and step into it—it may change your life … Check in with the people you love, even when everything seems fine … The end of a relationship does not diminish its value. I spent twelve extraordinary years with my person, and the ending does not erase the love, joy, and life we shared. I carry those memories with gratitude and consider myself fortunate to have loved—and been loved—so deeply and so authentically.”

BRIAN & DAVID

TOGETHER 33 YEARS

Brian: “My late husband David Corbett and I met at Pride June 30, 1991 … in 2022, on a transatlantic cruise, I got down on bended knee and proposed marriage on the promenade deck. He was so shocked and surprised … [We] married in our living room a year later with a good friend who I served with as a Deacon at MCCT …

David knew me better than anyone. He was my rock … as far as I am concerned we were married for all of our relationship of 33 years. We just made it legal much later. Of course we had our challenges but always stood and supported one another …

My words of advice are do not give up on love. I was not looking for love and David came into my life unexpectedly. Be sure to openly communicate to one another, do not hold grudges and do not take your partner for granted. Things can change at a moments notice. Have no regrets and follow your heart.“

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Query, to keep up with community events, programming, and all things MCC Toronto.

Consider making a donation in honour of 25 Years of Affirming Love by texting 25YEARS to 45678.

A $25 donation will be added to your phone bill, and your generosity will directly support our vital queer/trans+ programming.

You can also click the button below to make a custom donation to 25 Years of Affirming Love.

DONATE

Jim Scott & Jim Robertson, this year’s Church on Church music sponsors, at our 25 Years of Affirming Love anniversary event. January, 2026.

Our community first gathered above a bar in Toronto’s Church-Wellesley Village in 1973. It was born from the belief that queer and trans lives are sacred, that justice and spirituality belong together, and that love must exist not only in words, but in action.

For more than 50 years, we have created space for queer and trans people to gather, organize, celebrate, grieve, worship, resist, and belong.

As Rev. Deana often reminds us through the words of Dr. Cornel West: “Justice is what love looks like in public.”

That philosophy continues to shape everything we do.

We are love in action.

Our work is rooted in the history of queer liberation movements, and our vision has always been forward-facing. We believe collective liberation requires collective action. We believe in breaking the boundaries created by systems that were never built for queer/trans+ communities to flourish within.

MCC Toronto is the proof that a more just, joyful, and liberated future is possible, when we build it together.

Because together, we are love in action.