In addition to the strong positions of support for LGBTQIA+ concerns from the national Unitarian Universalist Association, UUCC has a 🏳️⚧️ vibrant queer community 🏳️🌈 that participates actively in all aspects of the life of the congregation. You are invited to experience this inclusive spiritual community in Columbia, MD.
Click the button link below to view upcoming LGBTQIA+ and LGBTQIA+ friendly events.
LGBTQIA+ Calendar🌈
UUCC’s 🏳️⚧️ LGBTQIA+ group 🏳️🌈 offers opportunities for queer congregants and community members to connect, share, and have fun together. Drop-ins, visitors, newcomers, and longtime congregants alike are always welcome to our gatherings.
| 🍨 Ice Cream Social (All Ages), October 4, 2026, 4PM ✨ Sign-up here This event is for anyone of all ages who identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community and their family/friends | 🍧 Hang out with fellow LGBTQIA+ people and have ice cream of all colors at this all-ages event! Newcomers and visitors welcome. Dairy free options will be available. Registration appreciated, not required. | 🙋 Volunteers needed: Sign-up to bring ice cream, toppings, serving utensils, and/or sign up to set-up / serve / clean-up. You can also email Hannah Nelson at hannah@uucolumbia.net to sign-up to volunteer. Just let her know what you can help with. |
| 🌈 HoCo Pride (All Ages), October 11, 2026, 12-4PM 🏳️⚧️ Register online | ✨ HoCo Pride is an annual celebration of the Howard County rainbow community with vendors, exhibitions, history, food trucks, and performances. Join us at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods (10431 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia). | 🙋 Volunteers needed: Sign-up on the way! Allies and LGBTQIA+ people are invited to staff UUCC’s booth to chat about our congregation, Unitarian Universalism, and life with people that pop by our booth. |
Transgender Day of Remembrance 🏳️⚧️
Each year we honor the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20 with a reflective evening service with music and candles. Join Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper and congregants to honor the memory of those whose lives have been lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. | 🏳️⚧️ View full event info
LGBTQIA+ Groups
Along with our LGBTQIA+ group, we invite you to check out the following LGBTQIA+ opportunities and participate as you have bandwidth and interest whether you’re brand new to UUCC, or have been around for years:
Central Maryland Mosaic Community Chorus 🎶
The UU Congregation of Columbia and Christ United Methodist Church co-sponsor space for The Central Maryland Mosaic Community Chorus: a safe community for LGBTQIA+, trans, and BIPOC to make music, relax, socialize, and thrive. Led by director Ryan James Ritzes, it’s open to all queer people, BIPOC, and allies ages 16+ and practices Wednesdays, 7-9PM in Sanctuary B at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center. Free to join; no music training required. Several UUCC congregants are singing with the chorus; join them!
👉 Contact: Ryan James: singtherainbow@proton.me
PFLAG Columbia-Howard County 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
The UU Congregation of Columbia and Christ United Methodist Church have long-sponsored space for PFLAG at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center. The mission of PFLAG Columbia-Howard County is to support parents and caregivers of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer children. The group welcomes all people—gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, and queer—as well as their families and friends.
👉 View PFLAG’s webpage
Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education 🦉
The Our Whole Lives (OWL) lifespan sexuality education curriculum especially supports our youth to understand and accept their own sexuality and that of their peers. UUCC offers OWL classes for different ages and stages, from kindergarten to middle school to young adult to older adult at various times.
👉 Contact: Director of Children and Family Ministires, Kelli Danaker: kelli@uucolumbia.net
Connect with Executive Director Laurice Grae (she/they, laurice@uucolumbia.net) and/or Director of Communications & Group Connection Sara Davidson (they/them, sara@uucolumbia.net) to learn more about LGBTQIA+ group gatherings.
🖥️ Congregants can also get added to the LGBTQIA+ Realm Group in UUCC’s Realm database to suggest meetups, share resources, ask questions, etc. Connect with Director of Administration & Hospitality Hannah Nelson (hannah@uucolumbia.net) to get added to this online group.
LGBTQIA+ photo collage featuring photos from: 1) several photos from UUCC’s trips to Howard County Pride in Columbia, MD in recent years, 2) Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper and wife Cindy, 3) DC Pride 2024, and 4) Central Maryland Mosaic Community Chorus 2024 concert