The Sankofa Gathering: Reflect, Revival, Renewal
A Pride worship experience rooted in the Sankofa principle — reclaiming love, dignity, and belonging for LGBTQ+ people, their families, allies, and faith leaders.
Director of the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs
The Pride Issue · June 2026 · 5 min read
The Sankofa Gathering: Returning to Love, Liberation, and Belonging was a Pride Celebration Worship Experience that provided a sacred space for LGBTQ+ people, their families, allies, and faith leaders to gather in worship, reflection, and community.
For many LGBTQ+ people, particularly Black LGBTQ+ people, faith communities have been places of both spiritual formation and profound hurt. Too often, individuals were made to feel that they had to choose between their faith and their authenticity. The Sankofa Gathering offered a different witness.
Rooted in the Sankofa principle of looking back to reclaim what was lost in order to move forward, the gathering invited participants to reclaim the love, dignity, and belonging that had always been theirs. It drew upon the rich traditions of Black faith, liberation, and community while affirming the sacred worth of LGBTQ+ people.
The gathering created space for those who had felt disconnected from faith communities, those seeking spiritual connection, and those longing for a community where they could show up fully as themselves. Through worship, music, prayer, and fellowship, participants were reminded that they did not have to leave parts of themselves behind in order to belong.
Featuring Bishop Dr. Vanessa M. Brown, East Coast Region Bishop of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, and Guest Psalmist Rev. Tia LyDawn, the evening offered inspiration, encouragement, and an opportunity to gather in community during Pride Month.
As Pride Month continues, The Sankofa Gathering serves as a reminder that liberation is not only social and political, but also spiritual. The impact of the gathering extends beyond a single evening, inviting participants to carry forward a renewed commitment to love, justice, and belonging. Through worship, community, and collective reflection, the event affirmed that LGBTQ+ people deserve spaces where their faith, identity, and humanity are fully embraced. In that spirit, we continue the work of reclaiming what has always been ours.
