This weekend was Phoenix Pride and what a weekend it was! I’ve always loved Pride, even before I came out–especially the parade aspect, it is the happiest time of the year. Everyone is happy, there is love showered everywhere, everyone has humorous t-shirts, lots of glitter on, outfits that make them feel beautiful and are with the people they know love and support them. Each float or car or walking group that comes by waves to the crowd and the crowd waves right back. Children delight at getting fans, candy, beads, noisemakers and other items that inherently cost less than 17 cents apiece.
For almost 20 years, my family and I walked in the Pride Parade with our UU Congregation. My children were always in it with me and one year, my mom held the banner up front. We knew how important it is for religious organizations to be there–to counteract all the hate that comes from more conservative churches. Most LGBTQ+ folks associate houses of worship with oppression and many carry religious trauma and rejection from churches. It may be bold of me to say, but I think religious groups marching in the parade are the most important category of any that are there. That we exist matters greatly.
This year was our best Phoenix Pride yet.
- Our decorations were the best yet.
- Our giveaways were the best received yet (pretty bags with rainbow bracelets and a card with a QR code to our website)
- Our marchers were enthusiastic and many knew how the parade worked–it was teamwork at its finest.
- The Phoenix Pride organizers were actually “organized” this year.
- The temperature cooperated the best.
- And we believe it was the best integration between the service and the parade that we’ve had yet, thanks to stellar leadership of Benjie Messer and Blake Rushing in the sanctuary and Jade Barger doing camera and sound on the parade route.
Whether you consider yourself part of the LGBTQ+ community or a strong ally, I hope you could feel the joy and hope that came from Pride. We’ve come a long way–and we still have a long way to go, especially when it comes to religious support. I am so proud to wear my “This Queer Minister Loves You” shirt as I represented UUCP.