Have you
noticed that the Pride Flag has expanded its colors? Didn’t the original
rainbow motif cover everybody? No, it did not. Unless you are intentionally invited
to take a seat at the table, you are only an outsider. The new and expanded
Pride Flag includes the pink, blue and white colors for the trans and gender
non-conforming community and black and brown colors to include Black and Brown
lives that are a constant target of injustice and brutality.
The year 2020,
and continuing into this year, has created a heavy load in the lives of many
that I call it the four “P’s” – pandemic, politics, policing/protesting, and
personal. All of us have been impacted by the coronavirus and most certainly
through watching the political circus that culminated on January 6 at our
nation’s Capital; heartbroken at the violence and death of too many Black
citizens and the crisis at our country’s border. Everyone had something personal
going on that left a burden.
But, within
the dark cloud of the 4 “P’s” was the silver lining that opened our eyes to the
struggles and pain of our neighbors and strangers. Sure, this time period made
many retreat in fear and be concerned only what happened inside their four
walls. But for others, the events of the past year not only expanded their
vision, but their concern and actions for others.
In this second
year of celebrating Pride Month in socially distant ways, a coalition of
equality organizations have banded together to create “The Colors of
Pride” as a way of focusing on the intersectional equality of queerness,
racial justice, and religious identity. National organizations like the
National LGBTQ Task Force and local organizations like Inclusive Justice of
Michigan are offering activities focused on the liberation of people targeted
by unjust legislation, public polices, and harmful policing practices.
By
incorporating the religious community in these activities, they are
acknowledging that many people hide behind their religious convictions as
reason for opposing the LGBTQ+ community. Either “quasi” religious
conviction or religious silence has led to legislation that blocks the safety
and support of women, the LGBTQ+ community in general, and the trans and gender
non-conforming community specifically, as well as Black and Brown lives.
“The Colors of
Pride” is an opportunity for clergy and congregations to take a public stand
for intersectional equality by engaging in activities such as adding their name
to a national list to support equality legislation or participating in trainings
to learn how to engage their representatives on these important issues.
The Colors of Pride Week of Action commences on Monday, June 14 and concludes
on Saturday, June 19 with a national commemoration of Juneteenth – the
emancipation of enslaved Americans in 1865. This Juneteenth commemoration will
connect to the liberation of Black and Brown lives today.
The goal is to
create opportunities for allyship with the queer community, Black and Brown
communities, and congregations by engaging religious communities nationwide to
participate in pro-equality actions during Pride month.
This is one
way of expanding the focus of Pride beyond the parades and festivals to action
that will improve the lives of others in our ever-expanding community. This is
taking Pride outside of the box for intersectional equality.
Rev. Dr.
Roland Stringfellow is the Board
President of Inclusive Justice of Michigan, a staff member of The Center for
LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion, and the Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan
Community Church of Detroit.
SOURCE: ADVOCATE
Really hope things will change for the better, for everyone. 🙂💙
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