Interfaith Rainbow Chapel & Referrals Booth

Free opportunity to share about our inclusive congregations. 

LGBT-affirming churches, synagogues, and other religious groups in the Bay Area are invited to participate in our Interfaith Rainbow Chapel & LGBT-affirming religious info & referrals booths at the San Francisco Pride Celebration, Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30, 2019.

Coordinator and Cost?

We owe a debt of gratitude to Rita Goldberger who has taken leadership to organize the booth for a number of years. Thanks to a generous donor, there is no cost involved to the congregations and groups who wish to participate.

Why is the San Francisco Pride Celebration Important?

The San Francisco Pride Celebration is one of the oldest LGBT community celebrations in the world, held since 1970. The Pride Celebration is not only a showcase and celebration of the Bay Area LGBT community; it also features a wide array of performers, artists and local flair. With over one million attendees, the celebration is a great opportunity to reach new audiences and share about our LGBT inclusive congregations, ministries, and religious groups.

What happens at our booths?

The Interfaith Rainbow Chapel is a space we offer for LGBT-inclusive congregations to connect with the LGBT community. Congregations have offered LGBT-affirming tattoos; communion; personalized prayer; blessings over couples; a Christian Science Reading Room; a Quaker silent meeting for worship; Muslim prayer service; and a time for Buddhist chanting. Hint: Handing out pride related items (stickers, bookmarks, queer religious art, key chains, bottled water) gets vistor’s attention.

The Interfaith Rainbow Chapel is right next to our Information and Referral booth, which helps people from all faith traditions, from Muslim to Mormon, find an inclusive congregation that welcomes and affirms them. Booth volunteers answer questions and offer information from many of the local affirming congregations.

We also have referrals for affirming denominations as well as national groups organized to bring about change within the structure of their denominations.  And we have referrals for other LGBT people of faiths, such as Muslims and Buddhists. There’s something for everyone!

How to participate?

You can participate in several ways — whichever works for you:

• PROVIDE LITERATURE: You can provide informative and welcoming literature about your church, etc., to put on the referrals table to share with visitors.
• STAFF REFERRALS BOOTH: You can send volunteers to staff the booth during all or part of the day, to talk to people and answer questions.
• HOUR IN THE RAINBOW CHAPEL: Send volunteers to offer tattoos, prayers, blessings, communion or just give people an opportunity to get to know more about your congregation.
• OFFER FEEDBACK: You can provide insight about what else you would like at the booth.
• REFER: You can share this page or let us know who else we should contact.

When and where?

The Pride Celebration will be held Saturday & Sunday, June 29-30, 2019, 11 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The booth will be on McAllister, between Larkin & Hyde, on the side of the street opposite from the Asian Art Museum. Spaces: S008 & S009. You can drop off informational materials any time after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, or on Sunday, after 8:30 a.m.  Also, if you prefer, you can mail it to Rita at the address below, or drop it off in person. Call Rita at (415) 640-4439 to make arrangements. Volunteers who want to help staff the booth can come by at any time, for any length of time, during the Celebration hours. Entry points to the Celebration will be limited due to heightened security. You can find us by looking for our “God is Love” or “United in Spirit” banners.

Questions about the Pride Booth?

Contact our Booth Coordinator Rita A. Goldberger if you have questions, ideas or want to schedule time in the Rainbow Chapel or arrange to drop off or mail information for the Referrals booth:

Rita A. Goldberger  (415) 640-4439

Feel free to share this page with any local congregation, organization or individual who you think might be interested.
Please direct any questions about the parade contingent to Michael Leslie.

NOTE: A growing number of groups say LGBT people are welcome, but then are subjected to something less than the affirming. For this reason, materials submitted will be subject to review so that appropriate LGBT -affirming groups are presented to those seeking information.