June 2014 Ritual: Happy Pride!

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By Diann L. Neu

Rainbow_flag_breezeJune is LGBTIQ Pride Month, and the WATER community is proud to celebrate! The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer people have had on local, national, and international history.

WATER is committed to justice in all our program areas. Most recently, WATER and DignityWomen partnered for a weekend retreat, “Holy, Wholly Holy,”open to all women and led by lesbian/queer women.

Call to Solidarity

Listen to LGBTIQ people who call for solidarity. Think of the ones you know.

I am your friend. For a very long time I have been reaching out to you, listening to your dreams, talking with you about my life. I am right here with you.
Response: You are not alone. We are here with you.

I am your co-worker. I work next to you in so many places. I am the doctor who comforted your dying mother. I teach your daughters and sons. I am your therapist. I am your spiritual director. I am your pastor, rabbi, cardinal, priest. I am right here with you.
Response: You are not alone. We are here with you.

I am your colleague. I stand beside you in so many places. I am the campus minister who marched next to you as we advocated for LGBTIQ rights and marriage equality. I am the nun by your side at the women’s shelter where you volunteer. I am the social worker who supports your sister at the mental health center. I am right here with you.
Response: You are not alone. We are here with you.

I am your family member. I am your neighbor. As you support my coming out, you give me courage. As you support LGBTIQ people and issues, you give me strength to say I am right here with you.
Response:  You are not alone. We are here with you.

Gratitude for Human Diversity

Gracious and Loving God of Many Names, we praise you for creating LGBTIQ people and their friends. We praise you for creating us, your lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and heterosexual people.

For creating all people with dignity and worth, Gratitude!

For honoring the many ways people live and love, Gratitude!

For living with authenticity and integrity, Gratitude!

For working to overcome cruelty and bullying toward LGBTIQ teens in schools and communities, Gratitude!

For building a world where all people, no matter their perceived particularities, are celebrated and loved by You, Gratitude!

For celebrating sexual and gender diversity as a blessing that enriches all, Gratitude!

For bringing people out of their closets and into the full life of religious groups, society, and the military, Gratitude!

For helping us break through the heterosexism, homo-hatred, and transphobia in ourselves, our families and friends, our communities and cultures, Gratitude!

For embracing us with your love and care, Gratitude!

For enlightening us with dreams of holy impatience, Gratitude!

Gracious and Loving God of Many Names, we praise you for creating LGBTIQ people and their friends. We praise you for creating all of us, your lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and heterosexual people.

 

Act with Pride This MonthLet no one cage you be you

  • Participate in Pride events.
  •  Wear a rainbow ribbon in solidarity with the LGBTIQ community.
  • Remember a friend or colleague who has died from a hate crime or HIV/AIDS.
  • Advocate to end discrimination against LGBTIQ people everywhere, particularly in the workplace, by calling on your legislators to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
  • Promote safe places for trans and gender-nonconforming individuals, 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.

© Diann L. Neu, D.Min., is the cofounder and codirector of WATER. dneu@hers.com