Queer Evangelist

Cheri DiNovo, a United Church minister, performed the first legal same-sex marriage registered in Canada in 2001. She also passed more LGBTQ bills than anyone in Canadian history, including Toby's Law, the first Transgender Rights legislation in North America. Her book is a story of hope for queer (and other) kids everywhere.

Format: Hardback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 08 December 2020
Publisher: Wilfrid Laurier University Press

Cheri DiNovo's journey is truly remarkable. She went from a life of hardship on the streets as a teenager to becoming a United Church minister and performing the first legal same-sex marriage registered in Canada in 2001. Her story is a testament to the resilience and determination of the human spirit.

DiNovo's journey began as a young socialist activist in the 1960s. She was deeply committed to social justice and equality, and she fought tirelessly for the rights of marginalized communities. In the 1990s, she was ordained as a minister in the United Church, and she continued to serve her community as a pastor and activist.

As a New Democratic member representing Parkdale-High Park in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2006 to 2017, DiNovo made history by passing more LGBTQ bills than anyone in Canadian history. She championed the cause of transgender rights, introducing Toby's Law, the first Transgender Rights legislation in North America in a major jurisdiction. She also passed bills banning conversion therapy, proclaiming parent equality for LGBTQ parents, and for enshrining in Ontario law the Trans Day of Remembrance.

On this day in the legislature, the provincial government is mandated to observe a minute of silence while Trans murders and suicides are detailed. DiNovo's political work is interspersed with her personal journey, including her conversion to religious life, her theological work, and her ongoing struggle with the Christian Right.

DiNovo's story shows how queers can be both people of faith and critics of religion. She illustrates how one can resist and change the repressive systems from within. Her book, "The Queer Evangelist," is a story of queer justice realized and a story of hope for queer (and other) kids everywhere.

In conclusion, Cheri DiNovo's journey is a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and the human spirit. Her story inspires us to fight for social justice and equality, and to never give up on our dreams. We can all learn from her example and work towards a better world for all.

Weight: 398g
Dimension: 141 x 212 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781771124898