Thank God it’s Pride! An exceptional Pride Thanksgiving Service with the Auckland Rainbow Community Church (ARCC).

Many of us take for granted the freedoms we enjoy as LGBT+ people in New Zealand, when around the world members of our communities are tortured, imprisoned or killed. Being able to come together for a two week celebration is indeed a wonderful privilege – and we want to say thank you.

The Pride Thanksgiving Service will include performances by Auckland kapa haka rōpū Ahakoa Te Aha, readings and special messages, plus inspiring songs from visiting American countertenor Mikah Meyer.

Named one of MTV’s ‘Social Media Warriors of 2016’, Mikah is a travel personality and professional singer, most recently with the Washington National Cathedral choirs and as a soloist for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, NYC’s Rebel Baroque, and Canada’s L’Orchestre Symphonique de Longueuil.

As a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, Mikah received his Masters of Music (Voice Performance) from Montreal’s McGill University and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Memphis. He is founder and president-emeritus of Queer For Christ, the world’s largest, in-person LGBT/Christian young adult organization.

Followed by supper, this very special service will be a memorable, spiritual evening of remembrance and gratitude. Everyone is welcome. Christians and non-Christians, people of all faiths, parents, children and families. We are a community of diverse sexualities and gender identities, and everyone is lovingly accepted.

The Pride Thanksgiving Service will be held at St Matthew-in-the-City, a historic Anglican church renowned for its neo-Gothic architecture and style. ARCC has been meeting at St Matthew-in-the-City for over 30 years, and holds a regular service at the church every Sunday night.