June 2015 Ritual: Pride Month – Celebrate!
By Diann L. Neu
June is Pride Month, and the WATER community is proud to celebrate! We invite you to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer people you know of or know personally. Thank them for who they are.
An Invitation to Gratitude
Gracious and Loving God of Many Names, we praise You for creating LGBTIQ people and those who love us. We honor those who have been working for change as people of faith inside and outside of religious structures.
Let us thank those among us who have struggled and have emerged on the other side, and those who continue to struggle.
Who are those people who have struggled and continue to struggle for whom we are grateful? Let’s name them out loud now. (Naming)
Response: Thank you!
Let us thank those agitators and prophets among us who don’t take party lines and who speak truth to power even when it is dangerous or when no one seems to be listening.
Who are those agitators and prophets for whom we are grateful? Let’s name them out loud now. (Naming)
Response: Thank you!
Let us thank those advocates among us who bring a moral voice to the world and speak boldly and courageously for themselves and for all of us.
Who are those advocates for whom we are grateful? Let’s name them out loud now. (Naming)
Response: Thank you!
Let us thank the peacemakers and reconcilers among us who draw us together and help share the beauty of all people.
Who are those peacemakers and reconcilers for whom we are grateful? Let’s name them out loud now. Have you spoken your own name? (Naming)
Response: Thank you!
For building a world where all people are celebrated and loved,
Response: Thank you!
For celebrating sexual and gender diversity as a blessing that enriches all,
Response: Thank you!
For working to overcome cruelty and bullying toward LGBTIQ children and teens in schools and communities,
Response: Thank you!
For helping us break through the heterosexism, racism, sexism, homo-hatred, and transphobia in ourselves, in our families and friends, in our communities and cultures,
Response: Thank you!
For honoring the dignity and worth of each person,
Response: Thank you!
For inspiring us with dreams and holy impatience,
Response: Thank you!
For challenging us to believe out loud,
Response: Thank you!
Loving God of Many Names, thank you for creating LGBTIQ people and our friends.
Holy Creator, breathe new energies of kindness and love in the world.
Wondrous Wisdom, renew our commitment to work for justice for all.
This prayer was written for “Where There Is Love All Things are Possible,” A Multi-Faith Prayer Service in Washington DC, April 26, 2015, supporting Unite for Marriage.
Act with Pride
. Participate in Pride events.
. Tell a LGBTIQ person how much you admire them.
. Wear a rainbow ribbon in solidarity with the LGBTIQ community.
. Listen and share stories of coming out, transitioning, and living authentically.
. Remember a friend or colleague who has died from HIV/Aids.
. Promote safe places for people who are gender-nonconforming, including working for safe bathrooms.
. Donate to a group that works toward LGBTIQ equality.
. Give your religious leader a book that will enrich hers/his/their understanding of human diversity.
. Read a children’s story about same-sex loving people and share it with friends.
. Listen to music, read literature, view art made by LGBTIQ people and rejoice in their creativity even under cultural duress.
