Embracing Pride

I’ve attended a Pride festival the last few years. I grew up thinking there was a “right” way to look but, instead, Pride portrays freedom. My favorite part of Pride is people watching. I love the drag queens in their extravagant gowns. I love the vinyl shoes and platform heels. I love the hairy armpits, crop tops and bustiers. I love the man with a full beard wearing a sundress. I love the women who look feminine but use He/Him pronouns. There is no “right” way to look at Pride!

If only we could be so accepting of people outside of a festival! I’ve never understood the intense hatred of those who are LGBTQ. Why do you care who I love? How is my bedroom any of your business? As Christians, why would you hate other children of God? How is that showing the love God calls us to share with everyone?

Matthew 22:36-40  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Even if you believe homosexuality is a sin – which I don’t – God never said homosexuality is the greatest sin. He clearly states that hatred is the greatest sin. Adultery made the ten commandments, and the sin of gossip weaves its way throughout scripture. He didn’t come to earth and pat the religious leaders on the back. He condemned their religiosity.

And trying to take a literal view of a literary masterpiece is so stupid! When you read the book as a whole, you see the message of God desiring a relationship with his children. You know how evangelicals say you must, “Accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and savior”? It’s the personal relationship, the open and free interaction with a holy God that matters. Christ saves us from a rulebook and offers us so much more.

If you know a lesbian, gay, or bisexual person, you see that they don’t choose who they love. No one chooses to be hated and vilified. No one chooses to be an outcast. They love who they love. They are who they are.

If you know a trans person, you see the difference in them when they are finally able to transition and become their authentic self. You see the anger fade away, replaced with understanding and acceptance. You see the lightbulb go on as they figure out what’s been conflicted in them for years. You see peace and joy on their face when they look in a mirror and see who they know they were always meant to be.

If you know a queer person, you see the way recognize they are not confined by strict gender roles. They know they are more than a label. They accept themselves as themselves, not how society tells them they must be.

This is Pride Month. We are who we are. Accept us as we are. We’re not changing for you!

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Photo by Sophie Popplewell on Unsplash