What’s Good About Pride Month?

Pride month is coming to a close this week. I’m not fully sure what was different about it this time around, but it seemed less “in your face.” Last year, the “culture war” between conservatives and Christians and the LGBTQ+ community was intense. Remember how much Target was in the news with their Pride gear? Perhaps we have been too distracted this year with other news… an upcoming election, war, and financial struggles are front and center.

As Pride winds down, I thought it would be good to reflect on a few of the good things I see about the celebration and what we can learn about it in our faith communities. Will you turn your hearts in prayer with me?

A sense of belonging

While I’ve never really celebrated Pride myself, I do know what it feels like to feel like I didn’t belong anywhere and then find a community where I finally fit in. That was my experience with coming to WGA many years ago. I found myself with a group of people who understood my perspective, my painful experiences, and I also had space to work out my faith. Many in the LGBTQ+ community have experienced deep pain and rejection. “Belonging” is a powerful and necessary experience. How can we offer this with the church to people who have often felt left out or rejected?

Self-acceptance

When the only alternative to being “out” is shame and hiddenness, it is no surprise that this feels better. Of course, it isn’t as black and white as it seems at times, but finally saying out loud, “I’m gay,” is another powerful experience. It is freeing to step out of denial and into a place of honesty about oneself. This was part of my experience at WGA as well. I could finally stop and acknowledge the reality of the struggles I was facing and begin to wonder if perhaps there was something good within me. God wasn’t freaked out about my same-sex attractions. Was there a way to honor God and my confusing feelings? How can we work together as Christians to make it acceptable to talk openly about the areas in which we struggle?

A cause to fight for

When a person is living in secrecy for a long time, as many in the LGBTQ+ have experienced, then coming out feels like freedom. In many ways, it is. As in much of Christian culture, there are prescribed beliefs within the LGBTQ+ community. Some might find this limiting, but many enjoy having a cause to rally behind (such as gay or trans rights). There is a feeling of solidarity and connection when you are fighting together for a cause. Can we (the church) demonstrate justice, love and care for people who are marginalized? How can we fight for causes that inspire people to join us?

Let’s join together in our Christian communities and ask God to show us how to offer these things, especially to those who have experienced so much hurt and pain. I believe that with God, there is a way to bridge these divides and to offer 100% Grace and 100% Truth: No Compromise.