Pride in Dallas

In Dallas, TX, we celebrate LGBTQ Pride in the month of September, unlike the rest of the country which celebrates in June. This past Sunday, thousands of people filled the streets in uptown Dallas to participate in or see the annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade—Pride Parade for short. I have attended the parade for many years, marching alongside young people from a youth center as a way of showing them support.

In 2006, I attended an open and affirming congregation that also participated in the Pride Parade but it took a few years before I marched with them. Since I work with young people it made sense to march with the youth center. Then one day I realized that marching with a church was also beneficial to young people who were struggling to understand God.  So, along with my partner and son, we started marching with the church. Soon I had teens marching alongside me representing our youth ministry. Oh, what a wonderful experience it has been to see these teens who were once rejected by church now marching with a church who embraces them!

Each year I remind my young friends to be aware of those who will condemn us, picket us with hate signs, and yell at us with passionate anger. I always instruct my young friends to not engage or respond to this hate, but to remember that they are covered in love. We cannot shield our young friends from the ugly and hateful things they might encounter. But I can be there to remind them to hold their head up high and to be proud because they were created in the image of God.

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 says that our very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at us. In particular, I like the part where it says that Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God’s living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives; and that we publish this testimony.

Walking among my fellow Christians from the United Church of Christ, my fellow pastors, and two very colorful gay priests gave me so much joy. This year, like many others, we raised our flag of love and a banner that says, “No matter where you are in life’s journey, you are welcome!”

I have hope that one day people won’t fear what they do not understand and celebrate our diversity. This is an era of change that has cost us many years of prayers and tears. We are proud Christians, mixed with LGBTQ and straight congregants by our sides waving, taking a stand saying, “You matter and are wonderfully made.”

We continue to march with confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Above all, we will continue to show with our lives—to our students, parents, and those around us—the unconditional love and grace that covers us.

Amen.