Happy Pride 2024

Happy Pride Month! You may have seen on our socials that we are going to focus on Pride not just as a singular month or day, but strive to be a community and a church where all are welcome, all are loved, and all are enough.

The church as a whole has not been the most welcoming and receiving, but it is our goal, along with MANY other churches, to show that we are changing and that sort of exclusivity is no longer how we define ourselves. We welcome and love all, whether they come through our doors or not.

So on to the topic… how do we celebrate Pride? Can Allies even celebrate? YES, and we should. There are so many ways, and each is as meaningful and valuable as you need it to be.

First, look to Educate and Learn. Learn about the Stonewall Riots and the historical significance of what really started the Queer Rights movement in the US. Learn about laws and legislation that is either harmful or helpful to human rights. Look up different terminology so that you can understand the conversations happening around Pride.

Attend a Parade. In Southern California alone, there are so many Pride parades this month. WeHo happened last weekend, LA Pride is happening on Sunday, Valley Village Pride is happening on Saturday. You’ve got Long Beach, San Diego, San Fernando Valley, Pasadena, Santa Barbara… do a google search of your city + Pride, and you’ll find a lot of options! One of our favorite trends in the parades that we have seen in the last few years are people offering Free Mom/Dad/Sister/Brother/Cousin/Pastor hugs for anyone who might need one.

Support LGBTQ businesses. It’s always great to shop small and shop local, but for June (and beyond!) find local businesses who have LGBTQ owners and employees. (Haven’t the billionaires gone to space enough?)

Support non profit organizations focused in this area. One of our favorites is The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people. We provide information & support to LGBTQ+ 
young people 24/7, all year round.

Have an open mind. It’s okay if this is all new to you. If you’re not sure what some of the acronyms mean, or getting the hang of someone’s pronouns is new, don’t feel discouraged. Ask questions, if you feel safe doing so. Does LGBTQIA+ feel like a lot of letters? We’ve got you. Often shortened to LGBT, it stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Ace. You can learn more about each of these and what’s encompassed in the + here.

“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13