I have so been busy working on my next novel that I have had little time for anything else lately. Spoiler Alert: this one is going to be the first in a series. Needless to say, there is a lot of pressure when creating a character that will remain interesting over a series of novels. Especially since my main character was so loved in my last novel. So, I have rewritten Chapter 1 a hundred different ways and I’m finally satisfied with moving forward.
With all the rewrites, I realized I have neglected the blog a bit. For that I’m sorry. I’ve been inspired by a lot of current events lately, but not inspired enough to put fingers to keys…until this morning. I took a break this morning to surf social media and landed upon a 3-minute podcast by Andy Cohen about why Pride is still important. It got my mental gears turning and sent my thoughts off in so many directions. This blog is the product of the “little journeys” created by Andy’s video.
For those of us in the LBGTQIA+ community, we fully understand why Pride is important. It’s about visibility, freedom, equality and so much more. This year, it is more important than ever because the freedoms and equality that so many have fought for and dedicated their lives to achieving are being challenged. Unfortunately, it goes much deeper than Florida’s now infamous “Don’t Say Gay” legislation. Things that are happening within the governments of the US and worldwide are threatening the rights of LGBTQIA+ people, their families and their lives.
In the US, 240 Anti-LGBT bills have been filed in 2022, most of them targeting trans people. There are 60 countries criminalizing homosexuality. In twelve of those countries, it is a crime punishable by death. Eleven states in the US have laws prohibiting consensual homosexual sex, despite those laws being deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Beyond the legality of it, these unenforceable laws make it easier to discriminate in schools, the healthcare system and the workplace. These discriminatory laws negatively impact LGBT youth, who are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers.
Positive media representation makes queer kids feel seen and has transformed public opinion in a positive way regarding the LGBTQ community. In 15 years, we have gone from 60 percent of the population being opposed to same sex marriage to 71 percent being in favor. So, clearly positive representation in media has helped change skewed perceptions of our community.
I shared these statistics because I was shocked by them. In some ways, it was a good shock. In other ways, bad. All these facts got me in my head and I began to relive my experiences as a gay man. Most of my life I hid. My upbringing in the evangelical church made me fearful of any degree of acceptance of who I was at my core.
By the time I was old enough to understand my sexual attractions, I had been trained to believe that who I am was vile. I naively embraced the teaching engrained into my psyche by the church and learned to hate myself as much as I had come to believe God hated me. I prayed…I fasted…I begged God everyday to take it away. It never went away. (Btw, now I’m glad He didn’t.)
Throughout my youth and early adulthood, I resigned myself to a life of secrecy. I never imagined I would live in a world where gay people could live out loud and acknowledge who they love, much less, be legally married. My entire view of myself and the world was skewed by the faith I was reared in. So, ironically enough I had no faith because of my “faith.” Then, out of nowhere, the tides changed and everything got better. I became comfortable and, yes, even complacent. I became used to affirmation, acceptance and equality. Now, these basic human rights are under attack once again by the same adversary I have faced most of my life…the “church.” And that makes Pride even more important this year.
I feel a need to take a moment here to explain that this blog is not an attack on the church at large. I realize that there are many affirming and accepting churches today. I am thankful for these congregations who are doing a lot to help me heal the religious trauma I have faced. It makes me happy to see them with booths at Pride and seeing their choirs on Pride stages. It warms my heart to hear them tell my queer peers that they can be their authentic selves and still possess a faith. It helps to hear from people we have perceived as our enemy that we are embraced by a higher power who loves us and delights in the beautiful creation He has made. But, there are still churches who have extreme views on homosexuality. A few have been bold enough to share videos that declare that homosexuality should be a crime punishable by capital punishment. So, when I use the term “Church” in a derogatory way, I am referring to those people who identify as Christian but throw around hate, judgment and fear like candy at a Christmas parade.
Back to the matter at hand…Pride. It almost makes me chuckle how much the “church” has become so involved with Pride. That’s actually what prompted the subject of this post. Right-wing, conservative “Christians” feel that it is their sovereign duty to protect the “sanctity” of marriage and family from the gays. Not sure why that duty has topped the leader board above things like world hunger, affordable healthcare and purely spreading God’s love, but it has. Nevertheless, it got me thinking from a religious perspective on Pride.
Being a child of the 80s, I found myself asking, “WWJD?” For those of you too young to remember that little mantra, it was a movement that encouraged people of faith to ask themselves the simple question “What Would Jesus Do?” before taking action in important situations. It was created to inspire people to act in a more loving manner towards others. So, I started wondering what Jesus would do regarding Pride. Would he go and lovingly support the marginalized and those deemed less than by society and the religious elite? As quickly as I asked the question, I answered with a resounding “YES!”
Before you start expecting book, chapter or verse, let’s get real. I know Pride was not discussed in the Bible. However, there are many stories about the nature of Jesus and his activities while he walked on earth in human form. These activities and attributes have helped me form the sociological hypothesis that Jesus would have, in fact attended Pride. First, you must acknowledge Jesus’ eclectic entourage and group of friends to entertain my hypothesis. During his time on earth, He spent little time in the synagogues instead choosing to associate with and befriend those on the outskirts of “respectful society”. Among his friends were fishermen, a hated tax collector (Matthew), a greedy man who would later betray him (Judas), a hot head (Peter), and a prostitute (Mary Magdalene.) In addition, he associated with people others would never go near (the lepper.) So, yes, I think Jesus would definitely attend the party. I think He would show the unconditional, non-judgmental love that only He can give. He would embrace the belittled and downtrodden souls of every queer person there. I think he would stand in between the LGBT community and those representing the church with their hateful signs and judgment. I believe he would tell them “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” just like he did with the woman at the well. I think He would join the party and share the joy and love like he did at the marriage feast celebration. And, if the stories about the loaves and fishes and turning water into wine are any indication, we wouldn’t have to worry about food or drink. I’d also like to think he would take great joy in His creation enjoying who they are and feeling the freedom of acceptance. I am certain He would be displeased and angry with the hate being displayed by so many of the people who claim His name.
Now before I run the risk of being called sacrilegious. Let me remind you, this is but my humble opinion, to which I am entitled. If people can believe in a vengeful God who is waiting to pounce on His creation at any moment, I can believe in a God who takes pleasure in His creation and loves them simply as they are. I can believe in a God who created each and every person different and unique; each one perfect in their own special way.
I can believe he loves all of his creation…even the ones who spew hate instead of love. It’s okay if you don’t agree with me. I’m still gonna take Jesus with me to Pride and everywhere else I go.
So, that is why Pride is more important than ever. We are still in a fight for equality and freedom…and, in a very real way, a fight for our lives. We are in a fight to save the lives of LGBTQIA+ youth who still think it is better to be dead than gay. We are in a fight for the lives of gay people everywhere who are being tortured and killed for simply being themselves. We are in a fight for the trans community, who are being murdered and assaulted at an alarming rate in our country. We are still in a fight because there are “religious zealots” who think it is their God-given duty to load thirty-one armed men into a moving truck to go to a Pride event to assault and/or kill gay people and their allies. And, some of us who have found a way to embrace a faith despite the way we are treated by the “church” continue to fight because we know it is what Jesus would want us to do.
I hope I have made you think for a minute. Remember, God Is Love and Love Is Love and Love is what we were told to do by the Big Guy himself… LOVE ALWAYS WINS!
To my LGBTQIA+ brothers, sisters and allies, keep up the good fight, stay proud and strong and celebrate the beautiful creation you are because “you are wonderfully made, dearly loved and precious in his sight.” (Psalm 139) HAPPY PRIDE!
BREAKING NEWS:
This just in! I met Orion Posey AKA “Jesus” at Hampton Roads Pride on June 25th. His message was affirming and refreshing and gave me the sign I needed to assure me that my hypothesis was correct…Jesus would be spreading the love at PRIDE!
